Boston Dynamics

Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer, Hardware

Boston Dynamics • $135K — $167K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field; new graduates with strong research focus in simulation are welcome.
  • MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field with 2-3+ years of professional experience in hardware simulation.
  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field with 5+ years of professional experience in electromechanical hardware simulation and analysis.
  • Strong theoretical understanding of mechanics of materials, dynamics, and thermodynamics.
  • Basic to intermediate proficiency in at least one major FEA tool (e.g., Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran).

Responsibilities

  • Perform Static and Dynamic FEA on robotic components and subsystems under senior engineers' guidance.
  • Learn and adopt CFD and thermal-structural interaction methodologies for actuator and system-level thermal analysis.
  • Participate in physical testing to collect empirical data and enhance simulation model fidelity.
  • Execute standardized simulation workflows and contribute to automation scripts using Python/MATLAB.
  • Maintain detailed technical documentation and communicate findings during design reviews with cross-functional teams.
  • Collaborate with mechanical design and manufacturing teams to address hardware challenges with urgency.

Benefits

  • Opportunity for mentorship and professional growth in a cutting-edge robotics environment.
  • Engagement in hands-on execution of advanced simulation methodologies.
  • Collaboration with a dynamic, cross-functional team.
  • Access to state-of-the-art tools and technologies in robotics simulation.
Full Job Description
Boston Dynamics is looking for a Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer, Hardware to join our Central Hardware team.

The Hardware Simulation Engineer is a high-energy, growth-oriented professional destined to become a core contributor to Boston Dynamics' Central Hardware team. This role focuses on the hands-on execution of structural and dynamic simulations while rapidly absorbing advanced methodologies from senior mentorship. Starting with a strong foundation in Static and Dynamic FEA, the engineer will be trained to expand their expertise into the CFD (Thermal-Fluids) domain. We are looking for a proactive "rising star" who is ready to take ownership of simulation tasks and evolve into a key technical pillar within the organization.

What You'll Do:

  • Perform Static and Dynamic FEA on robotic components and subsystems under the guidance of senior engineers to drive design optimizations.
  • Actively learn and adopt CFD and thermal-structural interaction methodologies to gradually take on actuator and system-level thermal analysis.
  • Participate in physical testing (e.g., strain gauge, accelerometer, and thermal imaging) to collect empirical data and improve the fidelity of simulation models.
  • Execute standardized simulation workflows and "Best Practices" established by the team, contributing to the development of automation scripts (Python/MATLAB).
  • Maintain detailed technical documentation of analysis results and clearly communicate findings during design reviews with cross-functional teams.
  • Partner closely with mechanical design and manufacturing teams to solve hardware challenges with a high sense of ownership and urgency.


What You Bring:

  • Growth Mindset: An insatiable desire to learn new domains (CFD, advanced dynamics) and a proactive approach to self-improvement and problem-solving.
  • Execution Excellence: Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable simulation results within project timelines.
  • Collaboration & Ownership: A team-first attitude with the drive to take full responsibility for assigned tasks and see them through to successful hardware implementation.
  • Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced R&D environment, viewing technical challenges as opportunities for professional growth.
  • Demonstrated track record of applying FEA/Dynamics principles to solve real-world engineering problems. Also a strong ambition to evolve into a multi-disciplinary simulation expert and a key "protagonist" in the future of robotics at Boston Dynamics.
  • Strong theoretical understanding of mechanics of materials, dynamics, and thermodynamics.
  • Basic to intermediate proficiency in at least one major FEA tool (e.g., Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran).
  • Ability to manipulate and simplify CAD data for simulation meshing (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks).
  • Familiarity with Python or MATLAB for data processing and simple task automation is a plus.
  • Ability to articulate complex engineering concepts logically in both written reports and verbal discussions.


Qualifications:

  • PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field (New graduates with strong research focus in simulation are welcome)
  • MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field with 2-3+ years of professional experience in hardware simulation.
  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field with 5+ years of professional experience in electromechanical hardware simulation and analysis.


We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas for this position.

The salary range for this position will be clearly stated in the job posting as required by Massachusetts law. The base pay range for this position is between $135,000 - $167,000. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience. This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting.

#LI-MD1

About Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics is an American engineering and robotics design company founded in 1992 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company is best known for the development of BigDog, a quadruped robot designed for the U.S. military. Boston Dynamics has also developed a number of other robots, including Spot, a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation, and Atlas, a humanoid robot designed for a variety of search and rescue tasks. In 2013, the company was acquired by Google X, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. In 2020, the company was acquired by Hyundai Motor Group. Boston Dynamics is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Learn more about Boston Dynamics
Size
300 employees
Industry
Founded
1992

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Boston Dynamics

  • Boston Dynamics
    Product Deployment Engineer
    $100K — $130K *
    Boston, MA 02115 (Suffolk County)
    Technical Services
    In-Person
  • Boston Dynamics
    Principal Product Cybersecurity Assurance Engineer
    $150K — $180K *
    Boston, MA 02115 (Suffolk County)
    Manufacturing & Automotive
    In-Person
  • Boston Dynamics
    VP of Sales
    $180K — $250K *
    Remote
    Transportation
    Remote in San Diego, CA
  • Boston Dynamics
    VP of Sales
    $180K — $250K *
    San Diego, CA 92154 (San Diego County)
    Manufacturing & Automotive
    In-Person
  • Boston Dynamics
    VP of Sales
    $180K — $250K *
    Boston, MA 02115 (Suffolk County)
    Transportation
    In-Person

More Technical Services Jobs

Find similar Staff Robotics Simulation Engineer, Hardware jobs: