Mechanical Engineer - Robotic Systems for Rugged Deployment

Gritt; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gritt in South San Francisco, CA, is building rugged robotic platforms for outdoor construction. This hands-on role covers mechanical integration of robotic arms to skid-steer and tracked bases, with emphasis on mounting, sealing, thermal management, and serviceability.

You’ll design for reconfigurability, own DFx for field deployment, work with shops, and travel to sites. 3+ years in robotics/mechanical engineering and proficiency in CAD (OnShape/SolidWorks) are required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or heavy equipment.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills in ambiguous technical environments.
• Direct experience integrating robotic arms or heavy payloads onto mobile platforms (skid-steers, tracked vehicles, AGVs).
• Experience designing to IP67 or stricter, for outdoor deployments.
• Strong cabling and harness design experience with connectors and diagrams.
• Expert CAD proficiency (OnShape/SolidWorks) with GD&T and production-quality drawings.
• Structural analysis skills, welding/bearing sizing, and know when to use FEA.
• Comfort moving fast in scale-up from prototype to low-volume production.
• Willingness to travel to field sites (~15–25%).

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and execute mechanical integration programs that mate robotic arms and payloads to skid-steer and tracked vehicle platforms - structural mounting, load paths, power/data routing, and service access.
• Design and specify heavy-duty mechanical systems - mounts, brackets, enclosures, actuators, end-effectors - built to survive continuous outdoor duty cycles on active construction sites.
• Architect platforms for reconfigurability so we can adapt across construction tasks without rebuilding from scratch each time.
• Own the environmental strategy: IP67-rated enclosures, gasketing, connector selection, thermal management across roughly -20°F to 120°F+, and ingress protection against dust, mud, rain, and snow.
• Design, route, and validate wire harnesses and cable assemblies - strain relief, chafe protection, connector selection, service loops, and harness documentation a contract manufacturer can actually build.
• Integrate sensor and lighting packages (cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, work lights, indicators) with attention to field-of-view, vibration isolation, cleanability, and serviceability.
• Drive DFM, DFA, and DFS from the first CAD review, not as an afterthought.
• Run structural analysis (hand calcs and FEA) on critical load-bearing components; own the validation plan — vibration, shock, thermal, ingress, EMI — and see it through test.
• Work directly with machine shops, sheet metal vendors, and harness houses. Release drawings, manage ECOs, and hold vendors to spec.
• Go to the field. Diagnose failures, instrument systems, and carry learnings back into the next revision.

Skills

CAD proficiency

GD&T

Tolerance stacks

Production-quality drawings

Structural analysis

Field deployment

Travel willingness

Tools

OnShape

SolidWorks

Job description

Gritt in South San Francisco, CA, is building rugged robotic platforms for outdoor construction. This hands-on role covers mechanical integration of robotic arms to skid-steer and tracked bases, with emphasis on mounting, sealing, thermal management, and serviceability.

You’ll design for reconfigurability, own DFx for field deployment, work with shops, and travel to sites. 3+ years in robotics/mechanical engineering and proficiency in CAD (OnShape/SolidWorks) are required.