Hardware Reliability Engineer

Join the Future of Robotic Biomanufacturing!

Multiply Labs is a robotics company on a mission to solve a significant bottleneck in modern medicine: the manufacturing of life-saving advanced biologics - including cell therapies, gene therapies, mRNA therapies, and more.

Currently, advanced biological therapies are produced through manual, labor-intensive processes. This keeps costs astronomical—often exceeding $0.5M-$2M per patient—and limits access to only a fraction of those in need. 

As labor scarcity for scientists compound against increased product complexity and sky-high costs of failure, the emergence of robotics and AI makes the automated manufacturing of biologics feasible, reliable, and economically scalable. 

We envision that the biomanufacturing factory of the future is fully robotic - closed, automated, and scalable, making therapeutics for some of the most important indications for patients today widely accessible.  

Why This Matters

We don’t just build robots; we build the infrastructure for the next generation of biologics manufacturing. Our technology allows biopharma companies to scale production without redesigning their science, drastically lowering regulatory hurdles and bringing costs down to a level where these treatments can actually reach patients.

The Stack & The Scale

The Mission: Build the world’s best robots to make life-saving therapies accessible to all.

The Technology: Advanced robotic orchestration, high-precision automation, cloud-integrated hardware-software systems, dextrous manipulation, and imitation learning.

The Location: Headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

The Backing: Supported by premier investors, including Casdin Capital, Lux Capital, and Y Combinator.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Hardware Reliability Engineer to play a vital role in ensuring the robustness and reliability of Multiply Labs’ robotic systems. You will be a founding member of our Reliability Engineering team, and will work side-by-side with the Hardware Product and Systems Integration teams to improve our designs across the entire design cycle, from initial prototypes to deployed GMP production systems.  You will contribute directly to the accessibility of life-saving therapies by ensuring our robots perform flawlessly in a high-stakes biotech environment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Architect and carry out tests to characterize the long-term performance of electromechanical assemblies, including robotic end-effectors, automated valves, pumping stations, and other mechanisms
• Design mechatronic systems to perform accelerated life cycle tests
• Spearhead FMEA efforts to identify risks and drive corrective actions
• Use statistical analysis methods to determine how to efficiently carry out focused testing
• Compile data and present feedback to cross-functional teams such as hardware, software, and bio to drive design improvements
• Lead failure investigations and root cause analysis when issues arise on deployed manufacturing clusters at customer sites
• Work closely with the robotics software team to conduct system integration tests in our manufacturing clusters
• Generate and take ownership of test protocols for hardware verification and validation
• High level of independence and judgment in identifying technical risk areas, solving complex problems, and leading cross-functional teams through decision-making processes
• Authority to influence technical stakeholders on design and process improvements and risk mitigation strategies

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field
• 2-5+ years of experience in a reliability or test engineering organization
• Experience designing and building test setups for precision machines or robotic systems
• Experience conducting accelerated life cycle tests and applying statistical methods
• Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across hardware, software, product, and bio teams
• Detail-oriented, organized, independent, and able to take initiative in blank-slate projects
• Proven ability to apply critical thinking to complex products and lead technical teams through failure investigations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with FDA and/or EMA regulated industries
• Experience developing tests for medical consumables
• Proficiency with Onshape CAD
• Proficiency with Python or other software for automated testing and data analysis
• Hands on experience with machine shop and prototyping tools

Physical & Working Conditions

• Ability to reach, stoop, crouch, and kneel; this specifically includes the need to physically enter, stand, or crouch inside a robotic cluster for testing, debugging, or manual intervention.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds (e.g., test fixtures, replacement parts, tools) and lift up to 5 pounds overhead.
• Manual dexterity required for building and adjusting mechatronic assemblies.
• Comfortable in a machine shop environment when necessary.
• Work is split between a standard office setting and a manufacturing/lab area. When working in the manufacturing area, adherence to safety protocols and awareness of surroundings is required.
• Occasional proximity to hazardous materials (e.g., biological agents, cryogenic materials) may occur during specific cell testing validation phases, though direct handling is rare.
• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including lab coats, safety glasses, and gloves, when accessing specific lab or manufacturing zones.
• This role generally follows a standard schedule but may necessitate occasional evening or weekend work to support critical cluster integration milestones or time-sensitive troubleshooting.

Travel

• While our headquarters is located in San Francisco, CA, this position will require up to 10% domestic and international travel.

 

Total Rewards & Life at Multiply Labs

• Competitive Compensation: Salary range of $110,000 - $170,000 a year plus meaningful early-stage equity. We want our team to have a real stake in the future we’re building.
• Premium Health: Premium Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with subsidies for child dependents.
• Wealth Building: 401(k) with a 4% company match to help you plan for the long term.
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit: Pay for eligible transit and parking with pre-tax dollars to save on commuting costs.
• Parental Support: Robust Paid Parental Leave to support your family’s newest additions.
• True Flexibility: We offer Flexible PTO and 12 Paid Holidays, trusting you to manage your time and recharge when you need it.
• No Set Hours: Set your own schedule in alignment with your manager and team. We hold a high bar, measuring success by impact and outcomes – not hours logged.
• Office Perks: A vibrant SF office culture featuring catered team lunches, stocked kitchen, and frequent team events.
• H-1B and Green Card sponsorship available for exceptional talent.
• Referral bonuses for helping us build a world-class team.
• Great people, meaningful work, and a team that genuinely believes in what we're building.

Come build the world’s best robots—and help make life-saving therapies accessible to all.

USD 110,000 - 170,000 a year

We actively seek candidates with diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We’re committed to building a team where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work.

Multiply Labs encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply — even if you don’t meet every qualification. If you’re excited about our mission and think you can contribute, we’d love to hear from you.

Our headquarters is located in San Francisco’s vibrant Dogpatch neighborhood. Some roles may require 5-10% of domestic and international travel.