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Soft Robotics Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Manufacturing Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $110K/yr

Gradient builds the autonomous robots that make it possible. Partnered with the world's largest AI ... Own CAM and workholding: run Fusion 360, design fixturing and soft jaws, and hold aerospace-style ...

Why Agility Robotics Needs You At Agility Robotics, we are striving to create a business that will ... Soft Skills: Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize effectively while maintaining ...

Accountant III

Fremont, CA · Hybrid

$98K - $127K/yr

Why Agility Robotics Needs You At Agility Robotics, we are striving to create a business that will ... Soft Skills: Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize effectively while maintaining ...

Accountant III

Fremont, CA · On-site +1

$98K - $127K/yr

Why Agility Robotics Needs You At Agility Robotics, we are striving to create a business that will ... Soft Skills: Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and organize effectively while maintaining ...

Prototype Team Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100K - $160K/yr

About the team Droyd builds autonomous robotic systems that automate repetitive manual work in ... Design and fabricate custom workholding - including soft jaws and vacuum fixtures - and guide ...

Perform data collection tasks on the DaVinci Surgical Robot, including object manipulation, tabletop tasks, soft object manipulation, and more. * Operate the DaVinci Surgeon Console to perform ...

Showing results 21-40

Soft Robotics information

See California salary details

$82.9K

$94.7K

$115K

How much do soft robotics jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for soft robotics in California is $94,742.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $100,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a soft robotics?

A Soft Robotics job involves designing, developing, and testing robots made from flexible, compliant materials. These robots are often used for tasks requiring delicate handling, adaptability, or safe human interaction. Professionals in this field work in areas like medical devices, automation, and bio-inspired robotics. They typically have backgrounds in mechanical engineering, materials science, or computer science. The role may involve programming, prototyping, and analyzing robotic systems for various applications.

What skills and qualifications are needed for soft robotics?

To excel in Soft Robotics, you need a strong background in mechanical engineering, materials science, and robotics, often supported by advanced degrees or specialized training. Familiarity with design and simulation software (e.g., SolidWorks, MATLAB), rapid prototyping tools, and experience with soft materials fabrication techniques are commonly expected. Creative problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication are vital soft skills in this multidisciplinary field. These abilities are crucial for developing innovative robotic solutions, collaborating across diverse teams, and successfully translating concepts into functional prototypes.

What does a soft robotics do?

Professionals in Soft Robotics are often involved in designing, prototyping, and testing robotic systems that use flexible and compliant materials. Day-to-day work can include hands-on fabrication, modeling and simulation, and iterative experimentation to refine robotic mechanisms. Collaboration is key, as you’ll frequently work with experts from fields like electronics, biology, materials science, and computer science to solve complex engineering challenges. This role offers the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams, contributing to innovative projects that advance both research and real-world applications in areas like healthcare, manufacturing, and wearable technology.

What are the most commonly searched types of Soft Robotics jobs in California? The most popular types of Soft Robotics jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Soft Robotics jobs in California? For Soft Robotics jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Soft Robotics jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Soft Robotics jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Soft Robotics jobs? Cities in California with the most Soft Robotics job openings:
Infographic showing various Soft Robotics job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,742 per year, or $45.5 per hour.

Manufacturing Engineer

Gradient Robotics

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$86K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

About the Company
The datacenter buildout is the largest industrial project in human history. Gradient builds the autonomous robots that make it possible.
Partnered with the world's largest AI infrastructure companies and backed by the industry's best investors, we move fast and build full-stack systems that matter.
About the role
We're looking for a Founding Manufacturing Engineer to be the backbone of how Gradient Robotics turns designs into hardware. This is intentionally a hands-on founding role. You'll own the machine shop end to end while partnering closely with engineers on whatever is highest leverage at any given moment. This is a role for someone who loves turning drawings into precision parts: you'll see a difficult geometry, figure out the fixturing and toolpaths to nail it, and share what you learned so the next part comes out faster. You'll touch nearly every part we build, which means real ownership and room to grow quickly. The impact is significant: you'll keep the in-house shop on critical-path work and turn parts around in hours instead of weeks, while making sure nothing blocks the engineering team from iterating.
Responsibilities
  • Own the machine shop: operate and maintain our metal manufacturing equipment, including the drill press, CNC router, CNC mill, sheet metal brake, and band saw
  • Own CAM and workholding: run Fusion 360, design fixturing and soft jaws, and hold aerospace-style tolerances on aluminum and steel parts
  • Be an extension of the engineering team: give design feedback that improves DFM and DFA, and help engineers design parts that are faster and cheaper to make
  • Own outsourced machining: manage external vendors for harder geometries (roughly 2-week lead times) so the in-house shop stays focused on critical-path work
  • Build repeatable processes so common parts run without rework, and document setups, fixtures, and tooling so nothing needs to be figured out twice
Minimum Qualifications
  • Hands-on CNC machining experience (3-axis minimum; multi-axis a plus)
  • Strong CAM and feeds-and-speeds intuition for aluminum and steel
  • Experience with metrology (CMM, height gauge, etc.) and GD&T
  • Relentless finisher: nothing you own leaves the shop out of spec, no part goes missing, no deadline slips quietly
  • Systems-minded: your instinct after making something twice is to fixture it, template it, or document it
  • Able to work on-site in San Francisco 5 days/week (6 days/week if needed during crunch time), embedded in the team
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience at a hardware, robotics, or aerospace company
  • Experience managing outside machine shops and vendor relationships
  • Comfort using AI tools to multiply your own output