Mechanical Engineering LeadFull-Time • On-Site • Sterling, VA (Northern Virginia)
Competitive compensation 401k, equity, healthcare benefits
IN THIS ROLE YOU WILLJoin a cross-functional team of software, electrical, robotics, and operations engineers to design, develop, and validate the articulating end of arm tooling (EOAT) that powers our robotic microfactory. This is hands-on, mechanism-forward work - multi-DOF grippers, compliant linkages, actuated fingers, force-controlled contact systems, and tooling that must adapt to real variability in device geometry and assembly state. As the Mechanical Engineering Lead, you will own the full design cycle from concept through production validation and lead a small team of mechanical engineers doing the same.
Design & Engineering- Lead the design and development of end of arm tooling - grippers, fixtures, and compliance mechanisms - for automated electronics disassembly.
- Define tooling requirements in collaboration with robotics, automation, and operations teams.
- Perform mechanical analysis (stress, tolerance, kinematic) to validate designs before fabrication.
- Oversee prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement of EOAT systems.
- Ensure designs meet reliability, repeatability, and cycle-time targets in production environments.
- Apply DFM principles to minimize cost and lead time.
Technical Leadership- Serve as Technical Lead Manager for a small team of mechanical engineers - assign tasks, set milestones, and track deliverables across the EOAT workstream.
- Conduct design reviews, provide technical feedback, and maintain quality standards across the team's output.
- Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, supporting their technical growth and career development.
- Act as the primary technical point of contact for EOAT within the project team.
Cross-Functional Collaboration- Partner with robotics, software, and manufacturing teams to integrate EOAT into the broader automated disassembly system.
- Communicate design status, risks, and dependencies to project leads and stakeholders.
- Contribute to project planning with realistic engineering estimates and technical input.
- Help resolve integration issues and unblock teams during implementation phases.
Process & Documentation- Maintain design documentation, BOMs, drawings, and revision history to engineering standards.
- Establish best practices for EOAT design, testing protocols, and knowledge sharing within the team.
- Support lessons-learned processes to continuously improve tooling reliability and development speed.
WHO YOU AREA hands-on mechanical engineer with deep expertise in kinematic design, mechanism synthesis, and actuation systems - and the technical leadership to drive execution in a fast-paced, hardware-intensive environment. You take full ownership of your workstream and know how to bring a team along with you. Specifically, you have:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master's a plus).
- 5-8 years of experience in mechanical design, with at least 2 years in a technical lead or team lead capacity.
- Hands-on experience designing articulating mechanisms - grippers, compliant linkages, actuated systems, or similar.
- Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion, or equivalent) and engineering analysis methods.
- Experience with DFM and mechanical testing and validation processes.
- Familiarity with automation systems, robotics integration, or microfactory environments is strongly preferred.
- Strong communication skills and experience working in cross-functional product or project teams.
THING TO KNOW- We're a hands-on, collaborative team with big ambitions - expect full ownership and meaningful technical challenge from day one.
- There's a good amount of context-switching. We expect people to be autonomous and drive their own work to completion.
- This role grows with the company. As the microfactory program scales, there is a clear path to expanded team leadership and the opportunity to grow into a principal-level technical contributor.
- We're scrappy and building a great, sustainable company for years to come. Priorities may shift as the business evolves - we give people the context and decision-making power to meet that head on.
