Skunkworks Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Devyantram is building a unified platform of bionic robots, from nanoscale to humanoid, powered by a bionic brain system that fuses biotechnology, nanotechnology, and AI to tackle global challenges in climate, medicine, and defense.

Devyantram is building a multi-scale polymorphic bionic robotic system platform that integrates organoid intelligence, photonic computing, AI, and robotics into capable physical embodiments.

As CTO, you own Devyantram's company-wide technology vision and roadmap across the full stack, and you are personally the hands‑on technical leader for robotics hardware and embodiment. You set technical direction across organoid intelligence, photonic computing, AI, and bioelectronics in partnership with the domain leads who run those research programs, while owning mechanical, actuation, and physical‑systems architecture directly for the nanoscale to humanoid robots.

• Technology vision and roadmap across the full stack, shaped jointly with the CEO; technical authority and the call on how it gets built sit with you, with hardware and embodiment owned hands‑on.
• End‑to‑end physical‑system architecture connecting brain, controls, power, sensing, actuation, and structure into unified platforms.
• Actuation and transmission design: motors, drivetrains, soft actuators, artificial muscles, and smart‑material mechanisms.
• Mechanical architecture, CAD workflows, prototyping, fabrication, and hardware‑integration pipelines, with a bias toward speed from concept to working hardware.
• Integration of embedded electronics, power, thermal, and structural constraints under real operating envelopes, including defense‑grade reliability.
• DFM and DFA strategy, supply chain, actuator and component sourcing, contract‑manufacturer relationships, and BOM‑cost discipline from first prototype through scale‑up.
• Foundational mechanical and mechatronics IP: invention disclosures and patentable system designs, in coordination with patent counsel.
• Building and leading the mechatronics and hardware function over time: hiring, mentoring, and setting engineering standards.
• Technical authority in investor, partner, and diligence conversations on hardware and embodiment.

• MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field.
• 8+ years in robotics hardware, mechatronics, or advanced mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership: founding engineer, technical lead, or comparable ownership of a hardware program and the engineers on it.
• Whole‑system integration experience: you have shipped integrated robotic systems, not just designed isolated components.
• Strong background in precision mechanisms, robotic actuation, and transmission design.
• Hands‑on builder: strong prototyping, fabrication, and experimental‑validation skills. You are comfortable in the lab.
• Fluency in CAD and mechanical design tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or similar). Table stakes, not the bar.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and deeply technical levels in a startup environment.
• Comfort operating in a defense‑adjacent context.

• Humanoid, legged, or advanced mobile‑manipulation experience.
• Soft robotics, compliant systems, or bio‑inspired mechanisms.Experience with high‑performance, dynamic robotic platforms (Boston Dynamics‑class systems and the engineering culture behind them).
• Working knowledge of ROS2, Isaac Sim, and the embodiment constraints that controls and simulation impose.
• Startup, skunkworks, or frontier‑technology experience.
• Defense, aerospace, or hardened‑systems background.

• Speed from concept to functioning hardware.
• Quality, robustness, and extensibility of our robotic embodiments.
• Technical coherence between embodiment, controls, intelligence, and manufacturability.
• Ability to translate ambitious platform vision into credible, dated engineering milestones.
• Strength of hardware IP, patents filed, and defensibility of core designs.
• Effectiveness in building the hardware‑engineering capability and team.

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.

The pay range for this role is:

160,000 - 180,000 USD per year (Ashburn, VA)