# Mechatronics Engineer, VLA Gripping & Assembly (Lead) at Sorting Robotics

- Company: Sorting Robotics (YC W19)
- What the company does: We create automation technology for the cannabis industry. Backed by Y Combinator.
- Company website: https://www.sortingrobotics.com/
- Type: Startups (AI role)
- Level: Senior
- Location: Los Angeles, CA, US
- Work setup: On-site
- Pay: $170K to $190K base salary per year (USD)
- Posted: 2026-06-29
- Apply by: 2026-10-08
- Apply: https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/sorting-robotics/jobs/GFPB2XH-mechatronics-engineer-vla-gripping-assembly-lead
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/sorting-robotics-mechatronics-engineer-vla-gripping-and-assembly-lead/

## About the role

Sorting Robotics builds and deploys robotic systems for real manufacturing floors. We are hiring the Cognizant Engineer (CogE) to own our next flagship: a VLA-powered (Vision-Language-Action) gripping and assembly system. You will lead this product from the rig on the bench to machines running in customers facilities, and own its technical success end to end.

## What they're looking for

- The VLA gripping and assembly system cradle to grave: concept, design, build, bring-up, deployment, and field reliability
- Gripper and mechatronics design: end-effector, actuation, GD&T, rapid prototyping (3D print, laser, CNC, PCB), production-ready designs
- Perception and sensing in the manipulation loop: vision, force/torque, tactile, and the 6DOF arm
- Operationalizing VLA / learned policies: demonstration data pipeline, policy inference into real-time control, grasp/assembly evaluation, sim-to-real iteration
- 5+ years taking robotic systems from concept to delivery
- Identify as an AI native engineer

Tags: Engineering