Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotics

Analog; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Analog is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer in Abu Dhabi to own the mechanical design of ground robots and manipulators from concept through production. You will drive chassis, drivetrain, joints, end effectors and enclosures, balancing stiffness, mass and cost while ensuring robust performance in real-world environments.

You will lead hardware integration with electrical, firmware and software teams, apply FEA and GD&T, and supervise prototypes, testing, and manufacturing handoffs.

Qualifications

• 6 to 10 years designing mechanical systems for robotics or related high-tech hardware.
• Proven ownership from concept to volume production of mechanisms.
• Strong fundamentals in stress, fatigue, kinematics, bearing and gear selection.
• Expert CAD with disciplined use of revision control (SolidWorks, NX, Creo, Onshape).
• Practical FEA experience and balance between analytical and hand calculations.
• Fluency with GD&T and tolerance stack-ups for shop-ready drawings.
• Hands-on lab and shop experience: assembly, machining, fixturing and testing.
• Experience designing for environmental robustness (IP, dust, heat, vibration).
• Clear technical writing in a fast-moving hardware environment.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical architecture of mobile robot platforms and robotic arms, including chassis, drivetrain, joints, end effectors and enclosures.
• Design precision mechanisms and load-bearing structures in CAD balancing stiffness, mass, backlash, serviceability and cost.
• Manage mass, inertia and packaging budgets for each platform as requirements evolve.
• Translate motion requirements into joint layouts, reach envelopes, payload capability and actuator selection.
• Select and integrate motors, gearboxes, harmonic drives, belts, and other components to meet torque, speed and stiffness targets.
• Size drivetrains against real duty cycles and validate against measured load data.
• Design compliant, force-controlled mechanisms for safe world interaction.
• Address cable routing, slip rings and harness challenges for articulated joints.
• Run FEA on structures and FMEA on mechanisms; use results to drive design changes.
• Model thermal paths and design cooling for high ambient conditions.
• Build and instrument test rigs and run tests to failure.
• Own root-cause loop on mechanical failures and close with design changes.
• Move quickly from sketch to prototype using in-house machining, 3D printing and rapid fabrication.
• Design for manufacture across CNC, sheet metal, injection molding, casting and composites.
• Produce complete drawing packages with GD&T, tolerances, BOMs and assembly procedures.
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers on quoting, first article inspection, qualification and yield.
• Partner with electrical, firmware, controls and industrial design to serve the whole robot.
• Set mechanical design standards, CAD and PDM practices, and documentation quality.
• Mentor engineers and raise the technical bar through reviews and hands-on build/testing.
• Design for the field: serviceability, spares, tooling, maintenance intervals and technician-friendly assemblies.

Skills

Mechanical design

Robotics

CAD

FEA

Tolerance analysis

GD&T

Prototype testing

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering/Robotics

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Creo

Onshape

Job description

Analog builds world models and robotics. We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical design of our ground robots and manipulators, from structure and drivetrain through actuation, tolerance and the parts that have to survive a thousand deployments. You will work alongside electrical, firmware, controls and software engineers to take platforms from first sketch to machines that perform reliably in the real world.

Responsibilities

Mechanical Architecture and Design

• Own the mechanical architecture of mobile robot platforms and robotic arms, covering chassis, drivetrain, joints, end effectors and enclosures.

• Design precision mechanisms and load bearing structures in CAD, balancing stiffness, mass, backlash, serviceability and cost.

• Hold the mass, inertia and packaging budgets for each platform and defend them as requirements change.

• Translate motion requirements into joint layouts, reach envelopes, payload capability and actuator selection.

Actuation and Drivetrain

• Select and integrate motors, gearboxes, harmonic drives, belts, ball screws, bearings and brakes to meet torque, speed and stiffness targets.

• Size drivetrains against real duty cycles rather than peak numbers, and validate against measured load data.

• Design compliant and force controlled mechanisms for systems that have to touch the world safely.

• Solve cable routing, slip ring and harness challenges for articulated joints that flex through millions of cycles.

Analysis and Validation

• Run FEA on structures and FMEA on mechanisms, and use the results to change the design rather than to justify it.

• Model thermal paths for motors, drives and compute, and design cooling that holds up in high ambient conditions.

• Build and instrument test rigs for life, fatigue, shock, vibration, ingress and accuracy, then run them to failure.

• Own the root cause loop on mechanical failures found in the lab or the field and close it with a design change.

Prototyping and Manufacturing

• Move quickly from sketch to working prototype using in house machining, 3D printing and rapid fabrication.

• Design for manufacture across CNC, sheet metal, injection moulding, casting and composites, choosing the right process for the volume.

• Produce complete drawing packages with GD&T, tolerance stack ups, fit and finish specifications, BOMs and assembly procedures.

• Work with suppliers and contract manufacturers on quoting, first article inspection, qualification and yield.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Partner with electrical, firmware, controls and industrial design so the mechanical design serves the whole robot rather than its own subsystem.

• Set mechanical design standards, CAD and PDM practice, and documentation quality for the robotics hardware team.

• Mentor engineers and raise the technical bar through design reviews and hands on build and test work.

• Design for the field: serviceability, spares, tooling, maintenance intervals and technician friendly assemblies.

Qualifications

• 6 to 10 years designing mechanical systems for robotics, automotive, aerospace, consumer hardware or industrial automation.

• Proven ownership of mechanisms taken from concept through prototype, qualification and volume production.

• Strong grounding in machine design fundamentals: stress, fatigue, kinematics, bearing and gear selection, and tolerance analysis.

• Expert CAD capability in SolidWorks, NX, Creo, Onshape or equivalent, with disciplined use of PDM and revision control.

• Practical FEA experience and the judgement to know when a hand calculation is the better answer.

• Fluency in GD&T and tolerance stack ups, with a track record of drawings that shops can build from without questions.

• Deep hands on ability in the lab and shop: assembly, machining, fixturing, instrumentation and test.

• Experience designing for environmental robustness including ingress protection, dust, heat, vibration and repeated transport.

• Clear technical writing and comfort in a fast moving environment where hardware changes weekly.

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics or equivalent demonstrated experience.

Nice to Have

• Experience with humanoid, legged or manipulator platforms.

• Background in high cycle life mechanisms or show critical hardware.

• Familiarity with ROS 2 and robot system integration.

• Exposure to machinery safety standards such as ISO 13849 or ISO 10218.

• Scripting ability in Python or MATLAB for analysis and test automation.

About Analog

Analog builds world models and robotics, technology that blurs the line between the physical and the imagined. Our robotics team designs and deploys machines that operate in the real world, where reliability is not negotiable. You will work alongside engineers, artists and researchers who hold hardware to the same standard as the experience it serves.

This is a full time, on site role based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.