• Location: Onsite in Austin, TX
• Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full-Time
• Department: Mechanical Engineering
• Compensation: $110K – $155K salary plus 0.02% – 0.05% equity

About 9 Mothers:

• Develop AI-powered machines to intercept and neutralize Group 1/sUAS threats in real-time.
• Flagship product: low-power counter-drone system for vehicles, bases, or soldier packs.
• Focus on immediate survival and field-ready capability rather than long-term research.

Position Summary:

• Own high-speed imaging capability end-to-end for testing firearms and counter-drone systems.
• Use high-speed imaging as a diagnostic tool to deliver quantitative kinematic data.
• Design test setups, operate high-speed cameras (Photron Fastcam, Phantom), and analyze data.

Essential Duties:

• Plan and execute high-speed imaging tests for mechanism analysis and ballistic pattern capture.
• Design test setups including camera positioning and trigger architecture.
• Configure camera parameters (frame rate, resolution, exposure).
• Operate high-speed camera systems and design trigger circuits.
• Set up lighting rigs for scientific imaging.
• Assess data quality immediately after capture.
• Extract kinematic data (displacement, velocity, acceleration) using motion analysis software (PFA, ProAnalyst).
• Produce actionable reports with stated confidence levels.
• Maintain test records and calibration documentation.
• Design/build test fixtures and integrate supplementary sensors.
• Manage data acquisition hardware and support test program infrastructure.
• Develop test plans, procedures, and protocols; evaluate candidate cameras.

Requirements:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics or related field.
• 3+ years experience with scientific high-speed cameras in test/research environments.
• Experience extracting quantitative kinematic data from footage.
• Proficiency with motion analysis software (PFA, ProAnalyst).
• Experience designing external trigger systems for ballistic/mechanical tests.
• Understanding of lighting for high-speed imaging.
• Ability to assess data quality in the field and adjust setups in real-time.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and sensor integration.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience in ballistics/weapons systems or defense testing environments.
• Familiarity with firearms mechanics.
• Experience with MIL-STD documentation and defense T&E workflows.
• Test fixture design/fabrication experience.
• Experience with Schlieren or shadowgraph imaging.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.
• M.S. degree in relevant discipline.
• Passion for robotics or engineering projects as a hobby.

Success Criteria:

• Complete at least one high-speed imaging campaign within first 90 days delivering actionable kinematic data report used by engineers.
• Establish repeatable setup and trigger procedures for primary tests.
• Ensure camera setup is correct first time; assess footage quality same day; deliver data within days of tests.

Work Environment:

• Active test environment including indoor range and outdoor field testing with live fire.
• Comfort working around firearms, muzzle blast, safety protocols required.
• Outdoor testing in central Texas conditions including direct sun and heat.

Benefits:

• Meaningful early equity ownership
• Direct influence on product roadmap
• Mission-critical work addressing immediate threats
• Access to a new lab optimized for rapid prototyping
• Employer-paid medical/dental/vision premiums; partial dependent coverage
• Unlimited PTO
• Direct reporting to founders with technical autonomy
• Austin-based onsite culture promoting collaboration
• Relocation assistance available

Interview Process: 1. Virtual interview with Directors of Mechatronics & Mechanical Engineering (45 min)

1. Virtual interview with Director of Operations
2. In-person visit to Austin to meet founders/team
3. Offer

Compensation Range: $110K - $155K plus equity