Mechanical Design EngineerSan Francisco • Onsite • Full-time
About the roleOur robot's mechanical design determines how it moves, how reliably it works, and how easily we can build and repair it.
We're hiring a Mechanical Design Engineer to own mechanical systems from the first sketch through CAD, prototypes, testing, supplier feedback, and production. You'll work across structures, arms, joints, actuation, packaging, and assembly to make each robot more capable, affordable, and reliable.
This is a hands-on role. You'll build and debug the hardware yourself, working closely with electrical, robotics software, and operations to turn tested designs into robots we can ship.
What you'll do- Design robot structures, mechanisms, joints, covers, mounts, and assemblies.
- Work through actuation details including stiffness, backlash, bearings, bushings, springs, and load paths.
- Package sensors, compute, PCBs, cooling, connectors, and cables for fast assembly and service.
- Move designs from CAD to printed, machined, or sourced parts, then assemble, measure, test, and iterate.
- Simplify parts and assembly steps, reduce BOM cost, and work with suppliers on materials, processes, and tolerances.
- Build fixtures and practical reliability tests for wear, repeated motion, heat, impacts, and cable strain.
- Keep CAD, drawings, BOMs, part revisions, and build documentation aligned.
What we're looking for- Strong mechanical fundamentals across mechanisms, structures, materials, tolerances, and manufacturing.
- Evidence of real electromechanical systems you've designed, built, and debugged.
- Strong CAD skills and comfort working at the bench.
- Good judgment about cost, reliability, assembly, and serviceability.
- Ability to turn ambiguous requirements into tested hardware and explain tradeoffs across disciplines.
Nice to have- Robotics, actuation, or mechanism design experience.
- Experience with fixtures, thermal design, cable routing, or reliability testing.
- Experience taking prototypes into repeatable production and working directly with suppliers.
Important notes- Founding-team role with major ownership of mechanical architecture and the physical product.
- Hands-on building and fast iteration are central to the job.
- We value evidence of shipped hardware and thoughtful engineering over credentials.
Compensation and how to applyCompetitive cash and meaningful equity for an early founding role. We will tailor the package to the candidate.
Send us a short note and evidence of work you are proud of: CAD, robots, mechanisms, fixtures, manufacturing work, or shipped products that show how you think when a physical system has to work.
