Senior Mechanical Engineer

Company Description

Key Responsibilities

• Own subsystems end-to-end — from concept, sizing, and analysis through drawings, vendor sourcing, build, test, and field deployment — working closely with the CTO, Founding Mechanical Engineer, and electromechanical team.
• Define and satisfy mechanical requirements for a robot that operates in rugged, dirty, hazardous environments and carries multi-ton loads.
• Perform first-principles hand calculations and finite element analysis to size structures, mechanisms, and hydraulic components (cylinders, valves, pumps) under real-world loading.
• Run motion studies, interference/clearance checks, load path analysis, and tolerance stack-ups to validate design intent before parts are cut.
• Apply design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly principles, and stay hands-on through first builds to catch and fix issues early.
• Partner with external vendors and manufacturers to source parts, manage quotes and purchase orders, and build out early supply chain relationships.
• Create manufacturing, welding, and assembly drawings using GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Develop and execute hardware test plans spanning functional, environmental, and qualification testing.
• Define hardware success criteria with customers and support the robot through pilot deployment in the field.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years designing, building, and testing complex hardware systems.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with rugged, high-payload hardware — heavy equipment, off-road vehicles, aerospace structures, or industrial machinery.
• Hands-on experience with hydraulic or fluid power systems (cylinders, valves, pumps, manifolds).
• Proficiency in CAD and GD&T; experience with Siemens NX preferred.
• Strong grounding in hand calculations and FEA, with the judgment to know when each is warranted.
• Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware (machining, fabrication, welding, soldering, assembly, etc.).
• Track record of writing and executing system test plans efficiently within fast-paced development timelines.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment with high ownership and fast iteration.