The Role
The Mechanical Engineer will play a crucial role in deploying our Flippy robotic kitchen assistants, focusing on enhancing the user experience and ensuring seamless integration into live restaurant environments. This position works closely with product end users and across the full development lifecycle, with a particular emphasis on the deployment phase. The primary function of this role is to be a first point of contact in supporting immediate needs for Engineering, Operations, Sales, and other cross-functional partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Define hardware requirements and perform system-level design trades with the product team, specifically for Flippy deployment.
- Collaborate closely with product managers, engineering, systems, and testing teams to evaluate and optimize designs for customer needs, reliability, and ease of deployment of Flippy into a live restaurant environment.
- Contribute to the full development cycle of Flippy's various robot subsystems (mechanical, electronic, software, etc.) to meet defined performance requirements, with a focus on deployment considerations. This includes architecture definition, component selection, system design, analysis, testing, qualification, etc.
- Participate in cross-functional design reviews to build a shared understanding of the Flippy product, incorporate field feedback and provide constructive input to team members.
- Design, prototype, and build mechanical and electro- mechanical modules for Flippy robotic systems, with an eye towards robust deployment.
- Develop and optimize designs in 3D CAD software with associated CAE tools.
- Design and simulate Flippy component parts to reduce cost and increase reliability.
- Integrate Flippy's mechanical modules with other systems (electrical, electronic, software etc.) during deployment.
- Validate manufacturing, assembly, and service feasibility.
- Apply DFM on early-stage part designs to drive down manufacturing costs for Flippy components.
- Implement rigorous and insightful testing protocols, creating testing documentation and test designs specifically for Flippy's deployment.
- Iterate on designs to drive long-term reliability in the field for Flippy.
- Build and maintain detailed CAD models and drawings for Flippy components and assemblies.
- Manage and issue ECOs for Flippy parts and assemblies, assign part numbers, release parts, track revisions, and organize sub-assemblies and assemblies using Arena PLM.
- Collaborate with the supply chain team to work with third-party vendors to procure and build parts for Flippy; Aid in establishing supply chain and assembly paths for large-scale manufacturing and deployment.
- Prototyping & Fabrication: excellent workshop skills.
- Validate components per defined engineering requirements.
- Engineering Liaison & Cross-Functional Support: Act as the primary bridge between Operations, Sales, and the Mechanical Engineering teams.
- Deliver to defined schedules.
- Pre- & Post-Installation & Technical Support (remote).
Qualifications
- A BS degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
- 4-7 years of Mechanical Engineering experience designing, building, and testing mechanical systems or robots, with a focus on deployment.
- Experience working in a team that has designed, manufactured, shipped, and supported products.
- Proficiency in CAD (Modeling, Assemblies, Drawings, Motion); SolidWorks or OnShape experience preferred.
- Experience using PLM systems, change management processes, assigning part and assembly numbers.
- Ability to perform Machine Design analysis (bolted joints, stress/strain, load path/free body diagrams, dynamics/kinematics, analysis assumption) using both hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for design validation.
- Proficiency in using GD&T (ASME Y14.5) for creating detailed part/assembly drawings is preferred.
- Knowledge of various manufacturing processes; specifically machining, sheet metal bending, laser cutting, and welding.
- Experience using 3D printing for rapid prototyping.
- Experience in integrating and validating automated systems, particularly during deployment.
- Experience using Confluence and Jira.
- Ability to work well in small teams, able to leave a positive impact on working culture.
- Ability to communicate well with people from different areas of expertise, from customers to designers to software developers.
- Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to learn at hyperspeed.
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Willing to go the extra mile to help the team.
- Adjust well to rapid change.
$110,000-$130,000 per year + Benefits
The stated compensation range reflects the targeted base salary range for candidates residing in the Los Angeles Metro area and does not include additional compensation or benefits. If your salary requirements fall outside this range, we still encourage you to apply.
