Robotics, Embedded Systems & Mechatronics Engineer (Co-op / Part-Time / Full-Time)About FYELABS
FYELABS is a fast-growing innovation-as-a-service (IaaS) company working with emerging and ambitious organizations to design, build, and launch complex engineering products. Over the past 3+ years, FYELABS has delivered 100+ projects across 5 countries, spanning robotics, industrial automation, embedded systems, medical devices, hardware-software platforms, and advanced product development.
FYELABS is a proud spin-off of McMaster University and is headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario. Our projects typically run from 2 weeks to 6 months, giving engineers exposure to a wide variety of challenging real-world engineering problems in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment.
Role Overview
Position: Robotics, Embedded Systems & Mechatronics Engineer
Location: Hamilton, Ontario (IN-PERSON ONLY – Remote work is not available)
We are looking for an exceptionally motivated engineer with a passion for building real hardware.
This is not a traditional mechanical design role.
Instead, we are looking for someone whose core strengths lie in:
- Embedded systems
- Electronics
- Firmware development
- Robotics
- Sensors and instrumentation
- Actuators and motor control
- Electrical system integration
- Electromechanical prototyping
You should be comfortable designing, wiring, programming, debugging, and testing complete electromechanical systems.
You should understand mechanical design well enough to work effectively with CAD models and mechanical assemblies, but your primary expertise should be in electronics, embedded firmware, robotics, and system integration.
This role is ideal for top-performing students or recent graduates in:
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (with significant embedded/electronics experience)
You will work directly with senior FYELABS engineers on real client projects—from concept through prototype, testing, and validation—often taking ownership of complete subsystems.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop embedded and robotic systems for real client projects
- Design and integrate electronics, sensors, actuators, motors, motor drivers, and embedded controllers
- Develop embedded firmware using ESP32, STM32, Arduino, Nordic and similar microcontrollers
- Implement communication interfaces including I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, USB, BLE, Ethernet and related protocols
- Develop and debug embedded C/C++ firmware
- Assist with system architecture and electrical integration of multidisciplinary products
- Select appropriate sensors, actuators, motors, embedded processors and electrical components
- Integrate Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, Linux computers and embedded controllers where appropriate
- Build, assemble, wire, calibrate and validate electromechanical prototypes
- Debug complex hardware, firmware and system integration issues
- Produce engineering documentation including:
- Functional requirements
- Electrical interface documentation
- BOMs
- Cost analysis
- Assembly procedures
- Test plans
- Development schedules
- Coordinate prototype assembly and testing
- Interface with suppliers and manufacturers for sourcing and fabrication
- Evaluate emerging technologies that reduce cost, complexity and technical risk
- Maintain technical competency through literature review, experimentation and continuous learning
- Perform other engineering tasks as required by ongoing projects
Minimum Qualifications
Currently in 3rd year or higher (or recent graduate) in:
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (with strong embedded systems experience)
- Or an equivalent technical discipline
Desired Skills & AttributesEmbedded Systems & Firmware
- Strong Embedded C/C++
- Python programming
- Hands-on experience with ESP32, STM32, Arduino or similar microcontrollers
- Experience debugging embedded firmware
- Familiarity with RTOS concepts is an asset
- Experience implementing communication protocols including:
- SPI
- I2C
- UART
- CAN
- USB
- BLE
- Ethernet
Electronics & Electrical Systems
- Strong understanding of analog and digital electronics
- Experience integrating sensors, actuators and embedded hardware
- Understanding of power electronics and motor drivers
- Familiarity with signal conditioning, ADCs, DACs and electrical interfaces
- Experience using laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters and bench power supplies
- Understanding of batteries, power distribution and embedded electrical systems
PCB design experience is considered an asset but is NOT required. We place much greater emphasis on the ability to integrate, debug and build complete embedded systems than on designing complex PCBs.
Robotics, Sensors & Control Systems
Experience working with:
- DC motors
- BLDC motors
- Stepper motors
- Servo motors
- Encoders
- IMUs
- Force sensors
- Pressure sensors
- Load cells
- Cameras
- Proximity sensors
- Environmental sensors
Understanding of:
- Closed-loop control systems
- PID control
- Motor control
- Sensor fusion
- Robotics fundamentals
- Motion systems
Experience with ROS and Linux-based robotics environments is considered an asset.
Industrial robot programming certifications (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Universal Robots, etc.) are not expected or required. FYELABS designs and builds custom robotic and electromechanical systems rather than programming production robotic cells.
Mechanical Understanding
You should have a solid understanding of:
- Mechanical assemblies
- CAD models
- Fasteners
- Bearings
- Basic structural design
- Manufacturing processes
- DFMA principles
You are not expected to be a professional mechanical designer, but you should be comfortable collaborating with mechanical engineers and understanding mechanical constraints during product development.
General
We are looking for engineers who demonstrate:
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving ability
- High ownership and accountability
- Strong curiosity and willingness to learn
- Excellent troubleshooting skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Passion for building and testing real hardware
Most importantly, we value a maker mentality. We enjoy working with engineers who naturally spend their spare time building robots, embedded devices, automation systems, drones, custom electronics, IoT projects or other hands-on engineering projects simply because they enjoy creating things.
Interview & Application Requirements (IMPORTANT)
- PDF resume only (Word documents will not be accepted)
- Resume must include:
- Working email address
- Working phone number
- Link to an active GitHub profile, personal website or engineering project portfolio
Applicants without a GitHub profile or demonstrable engineering project portfolio are unlikely to be considered.
Candidates should expect to:
- Write and debug code during the interview
- Explain previous engineering projects in detail
- Demonstrate practical engineering problem-solving skills
- Discuss embedded systems, electronics and robotics concepts
Please ensure you have a working Python development environment available during the interview.
Employment Type
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Internship / Co-op
- Fixed-term Contract
- Casual
Schedule: Monday to Friday
Work Location: In Person (Hamilton, Ontario)
Benefits
- Company events
- Dental benefits (eligible positions)
- Vision benefits (eligible positions)
Preferred Experience
- Embedded C/C++: 2+ years
- Python: 1+ years
- Firmware Development: 2+ years
- ESP32 / STM32 / Arduino: 2+ years
- Embedded Systems Integration: 2+ years
- Electronics & Electrical Systems: 2+ years
- Robotics / Mechatronics Systems: 2+ years
- Sensors, Actuators & Motor Control: 2+ years
- Linux or ROS: 1+ years (preferred)
- SolidWorks or Inventor: 1+ years (preferred)
Work Location: In Person
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Fixed term contract, Casual, Internship / Co-op
Pay: $20.00-$30.00 per hour
Experience:
- C++: 2 years (required)
- Microcontroller: 2 years (required)
- Firmware: 2 years (required)
- Pneumatics/hydraulics/motors: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
