About Overlay Overlay is building the world's first intelligent makeup robot, reimagining beauty application through robotics, perception, and design. As a venture-backed, pre-launch startup, we're defining a new category of personal robotics at the intersection of self-expression and engineering. We're a small team inventing what doesn't yet exist and turning it into something beautiful. We're looking for a 6-month full-time contract with a Mechanical Engineer to support our in-house team. What You'll Own Run test plans and experiments, for example spray droplet size against nozzle and air pump settings Test pneumatics, and log flow, pressure, and temperature data Operate lab instruments, including a laser droplet-size analyzer and a viscometer Inspect molded and machined parts against drawings Build test rigs and fixtures, and assemble prototypes Support pump testing Keep clean data logs and write short test reports Juggle several projects, knowing dynamic prioritization is critical at this stage Embody our company values of ownership, velocity and craft What We're Looking For 2+ years of hands-on mechanical or test work (strong internships count) Reads engineering drawings, with a working knowledge of GD&T basics Comfortable with calipers, micrometers, and gauges 3D printing and basic shop tools Careful, consistent data recording (Excel or Python) Basic CAD (SolidWorks or similar) Experience running structured tests or experiments and summarizing results Thrive in a small, resource-conscious startup where the job is to invent, build and ship Bonus Points Fluidics or pneumatics experience Spray or dispensing systems Inspection of injection-molded parts Cosmetics or consumer product experience Interesting side projects Who You Are Mission-driven: excited to build a new category of personal robotics that works on real people Hands-on: you like building, testing and fixing hardware yourself Energized by working in person with a small team in our Oakland office High ownership, and comfortable moving fast with incomplete information Culture and Values
Move Fast, Move Smart:
Act quickly, but with clear thinking and good judgment.
Extreme Ownership:
Own outcomes fully from idea to execution to results.
Disagree Boldly, Then Commit Fully:
Challenge ideas openly, then align and execute without hesitation.
Intellectual Honesty Above All:
Prioritize truth over ego. Be candid, admit mistakes, and follow the evidence.
Live Demos:
Show real, working results instead of talking about ideas. Compensation and Benefits This is a full-time contract position. The range for this role is $10-14K, depending on experience and level. The package also includes flexible time off and commuter benefits. In-person collaboration in our Oakland office.