At Reality Labs Research our goal is to develop the next generation of hardware systems. We are looking for a Principal Mechatronics Engineer whose technical specialty is mechanical systems to lead the system architecture, detailed design, integration, and measured characterization of complex robotic hardware. The ideal candidate combines deep first-principles mechanical engineering with working fluency at the interfaces to actuation, sensing, electronics, firmware, controls, calibration, thermal engineering, safety, and validation. They will own the system implementation and contribute the data and interfaces needed by adjacent teams.
Responsibilities
Lead the architecture and detailed design of robotic systems from early concepts through integrated prototypes, repeatable builds, and technology transfer
• Design mechanisms, joints, transmissions, structures, bearings, routing, and precision assemblies, including actuator and sensor integration
• Translate research goals into measurable requirements and make tradeoffs across force, speed, range, accuracy, mass, thermal performance, durability, safety, and serviceability
• Model and measure kinematics, loads, inertia, compliance, friction, backlash, and vibration, and use the results to improve hardware
• Build instrumented prototypes and run experiments that explain integrated-system failures and validate design decisions
• Define the mechanical data and interfaces needed by controls, electrical, firmware, simulation, thermal, safety, and validation partners
• Set technical direction across programs, resolve cross-organizational decisions under ambiguity, mentor other engineers, and guide suppliers and research partners toward manufacturable, serviceable, and repeatable hardware
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 12+ years of experience developing complex mechanical, robotic, or electromechanical systems, including setting technical direction across multiple teams or programs from architecture through hardware validation
• Experience owning a dynamic hardware system through architecture, detailed design, build, integration, test, and design iteration
• Expertise in 3D CAD, load paths, structures, joints, bearings, fits, tolerance analysis, materials, manufacturing processes, released drawings, and assembly
• Experience applying kinematics, statics, dynamics, structural analysis, and first-principles calculations to mechanisms, transmissions, and actuator sizing
• Experience integrating motors, transmissions, position or force sensors, wiring, and electronics into compact mechanisms
• Working knowledge of feedback-controlled systems, sensors, timing, and operating limits, with experience characterizing dynamic hardware well enough to make sound mechanical decisions and debug integrated systems
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience integrating tactile, force/torque, position, current, temperature, or other sensing into tightly packaged mechanisms
• Experience designing for rapid research iteration, manufacturability, serviceability, and repeatable assembly
• Experience designing flex and harness routing, calibration features, and durable sensor integration
• Experience using Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent tools for modeling and experimental analysis
• Experience correlating multibody, structural, or simplified dynamic models with physical measurements
• Experience identifying inertia, friction, compliance, backlash, resonance, or temperature-dependent behavior from test data
