Advisory Mechanical / Hardware Engineer Ricoh USA — Boulder R&D

About the Role

Versatile hardware engineer for a small Boulder R&D team working across inkjet, robotics, machine vision, and renewable energy programs. You'll contribute to mechanical and electromechanical design from benchtop proof-of-concept through production hardware, including:

A renewable energy program advancing next-generation solar cell manufacturing
A UR-based collaborative palletizing system on a path to CE marking and contract manufacturing
Continuous-feed inkjet inspection platforms and their expansion across our automation product roadmap

When mechanical workload ebbs, you'll flex into software: Python and C++ for robotics, image processing, and high-throughput image processing pipelines. We're all-in on Claude Code for software and hardware work — comfort with agentic AI tooling is a real differentiator.

What You'll Do

Contribute to mechanical/electromechanical design end-to-end: idea → concept → POC → DVT → production hardware
Design EOAT, base frames, electrical and pneumatic systems for robotics and automation
Design industrial control panels, cable harnesses, and enclosures — component selection, circuit design, panel layout, routing, and grounding
Scope and ship one-off / bespoke automation builds — purpose-built rigs and process automation where you own the design from ambiguous brief to working hardware
Build robust optical/imaging fixtures (lighting, motion, alignment) for inline inspection systems
Generate manufacturing-ready documentation: 3D CAD, electrical schematics, BOMs, assembly/work instructions, test protocols
Partner with software/controls on integration: motion/vision triggers, sensor interfaces, PLC and robot controller communications
Contribute to safety and certification work: risk assessment, Performance Level analysis, CE marking, EMC/LVD/RoHS, and US NRTL paths where applicable
Flex into hardware-adjacent applied software when HW workload is light

Required Qualifications

BS in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field; MS a plus
Demonstrated track record of delivering multiple complex electromechanical products from POC through production — as a key contributor, not a peripheral one
Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Solidworks, or equivalent) and electrical schematic tools (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or equivalent)
Sheet metal and machined part design experience — DFM for bending, machining, and assembly; GD&T; experience working directly with fab shops
Hands-on with EOAT/gripper design, pneumatics, motion systems, sensors, and control-cabinet design and wiring
Python or C++ for embedded/robotic systems; Linux proficiency
Experience with machine vision / imaging hardware integration (cameras, lighting, lensing, calibration)
Strong systems thinking; thrives in a fast-moving, multi-project R&D environment

Highly Desired

Robotics software: ROS 2 (MoveIt 2, ROS 2 Control, TF2), UR programming (URCaps, safety configuration, controller integration)
Bespoke / one-off automation experience — integrator-style builds, purpose-built machines for a single customer or process (vs. high-volume catalog products)
Product certification: CE/UKCA, UL/CSA/NRTL, EMC pre-compliance; EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230
Advanced vision & compute: Stereo/RGB-D (6DoF pose, object detection), high-throughput image processing pipelines, GPU acceleration
Contract-manufacturing transfer: documentation packages, quality systems, production handoff
Precision equipment industry: inkjet, semiconductor, thin-film, or web/roll-to-roll manufacturing environments
Agile / Scrum: sprint planning, backlog grooming, iterative delivery

Mindset

Comfortable navigating loosely-defined problems and shipping working hardware without a fully spec'd brief
Embraces shifting priorities — focus moves between programs as priorities shift
Equally strong working independently and as part of a small team
Comfortable with AI coding tools and willing to explore emerging AI-assisted engineering workflows

You don't need prior printing domain experience — we'll ramp you on that. Your strength is in systems integration and hardware delivery.

Working Conditions, Mental and Physical Demands

Cope with stressors and demands that are associated with the job and/or the work environment so that acceptable and defined levels of performance and overall contribution are maintained. (While all jobs involve dealing with stressors, the particular stressors may vary job to job).
Work in areas which

Advisory Engineer, Hardware HPSC at RICOH