Principal Mechanical Engineer / Systems Engineer

Halo is a technology company building the future of haircare for all textures. We create category-defining products built for the complexities others overlook. We're building HaloBraid, the world's first braid-assist device. It helps stylists finish braids five times faster, flawlessly and gently. This is one of the hardest unsolved problems in robotics, applied to a $270B salon services industry, and integrating computer vision, compliant fiber manipulation, and novel mechanisms. Billions of hours are spent braiding hair each year; HaloBraid gives that time back. We're moving from R&D into deployment with salons, and we're backed by leading investors. YOU WILL - Understand the full HaloBraid machine and its architecture: identify design, tolerance, assembly, serviceability, and dependency issues, and drive them to resolution. - Personally deliver IC engineering: own a subassembly from 3D CAD through pilot and toward production-ready parts. - Review design work across the team to reduce complexity and raise design standards. - Build strong test/experiment/decision frameworks - Apply DFM/DFA judgment and prepare for pilot builds, supplier engagement, and contract-manufacturer handoff. - Mentor engineers, set practical best practices and standards, and strengthen our engineering culture without becoming process-heavy. - Collaborate with electrical, industrial design, manufacturing, and suppliers. YOU HAVE - 10+ years, or equivalent depth, in electromechanical product development - Strong mechanical architecture and product-design judgment: you can see the whole system and its tradeoffs. - A track record of delivering designs that made it through pilot or production. - An ability to review CAD and identify design, assembly, and serviceability issues. - A strong experiment / test / decision-making framework - Fluency with control drawings, tolerances, assemblies, and manufacturability. - Taken a product or a major subsystem from prototype toward production. - A desire to mentor other engineers without adding bureaucracy DESIRED SKILLS (OPTIONAL) - BOM ownership - Supplier searches with technical and cost recommendations: CM / supplier interface experience. - Product roadmap input - Production-transfer experience. - People-management experience. - Robotics or mechatronics experience. - Production embedded / electrical interface awareness. WHO YOU ARE - User-centric. You want to build things people actually use and love. - Low ego, adaptable, collaborative. - A fast, honest iterator. You learn through testing and user feedback, and you follow through on what you suggest. - Driven by the mission. A hard, unsolved robotics problem that gives millions of people their time back is your idea of a good challenge. - A clear communicator BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US - 100% medical premium coverage, comprehensive dental and vision benefits. - Meaningful equity. - 12 company holidays and unlimited PTO. - Free parking onsite. ONSITE WORK This is an onsite position at our office/lab in Cambridge, MA. You must have authorization to work in the US. DON'T MEET EVERY REQUIREMENT? If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align with every single line, we encourage you to apply anyway. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization.