Mechanical / Robotics Engineer

Gander Robotics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gander Robotics in Cambridge, MA is seeking a hands-on Mechanical / Robotics Engineer to design and build our autonomous underwater vehicles and related products. You will shepherd mechanical systems from concept and CAD through fabrication, assembly, testing, and iteration, with emphasis on CAD and mechanical design using Fusion 360.

Collaborate with electrical, software, and autonomy teams to integrate sensors, batteries, and propulsion, develop test fixtures, and move prototypes toward

Qualifications

• US citizenship required.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics or Mechatronics.
• 0-3 years of experience; strong graduates welcome.
• Excellent 3D CAD and mechanical design skills.
• Fusion 360 strongly preferred; other CAD tools also valuable.
• Understanding of CNC machining and designing machinable parts.
• Hands-on experience with 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including mechanics, materials, manufacturing, tolerances, GD&T, fasteners, and DFM/DFA.
• Ability to create and read engineering drawings.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical components, assemblies, enclosures, structures, and mechanisms for autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and BOMs.
• Use Fusion 360 or similar professional CAD software for mechanical design.
• Design parts for CNC machining, 3D printing, and other manufacturing processes using DFM/DFA principles.
• Build and rapidly iterate prototypes using machining, additive manufacturing, and other fabrication techniques.
• Perform tolerance analysis, material selection, fit checks, and mechanical calculations.
• Design for marine environments, including waterproofing, sealing, corrosion, pressure, and thermal considerations.
• Assemble, integrate, troubleshoot, and repair robotic systems.
• Work with electrical, software, autonomy, and sonar engineers to integrate sensors, electronics, batteries, and propulsion systems.
• Develop test fixtures and conduct bench, laboratory, and in-water testing.
• Work with vendors and machine shops to manufacture custom components.
• Help transition prototypes into repeatable, manufacturable products.

Skills

3D CAD

Mechanical design

GD&T

Rapid prototyping

Engineering fundamentals

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering / Robotics / Mechatronics

Tools

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Onshape

Creo

Inventor

Job description

US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED Full-time role. Cambridge, MA. Salary: $100k - $120k, Equity grant: early robotics startup levels

Description

We're looking for a hands-on Mechanical / Robotics Engineer to help design and build our autonomous underwater vehicles and related products.

You'll take mechanical systems from concept and CAD through fabrication, assembly, testing, and iteration. We need someone particularly strong in CAD and mechanical design who is equally comfortable working at a computer, in a machine shop, and testing hardware in the field.

What You'll Do

• Design mechanical components, assemblies, enclosures, structures, and mechanisms for autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, engineering drawings, and BOMs.
• Use Fusion 360 or similar professional CAD software for mechanical design.
• Design parts for CNC machining, 3D printing, and other manufacturing processes using DFM/DFA principles.
• Build and rapidly iterate prototypes using machining, additive manufacturing, and other fabrication techniques.
• Perform tolerance analysis, material selection, fit checks, and mechanical calculations.
• Design for marine environments, including waterproofing, sealing, corrosion, pressure, and thermal considerations.
• Assemble, integrate, troubleshoot, and repair robotic systems.
• Work with electrical, software, autonomy, and sonar engineers to integrate sensors, electronics, batteries, and propulsion systems.
• Develop test fixtures and conduct bench, laboratory, and in-water testing.
• Work with vendors and machine shops to manufacture custom components.
• Help transition prototypes into repeatable, manufacturable products.

What We're Looking For

• US CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED
• Bachelor's degree (ongoing or completed) in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.
• 0-3 years of experience; strong recent graduates are encouraged to apply.
• Excellent 3D CAD and mechanical design skills.
• Fusion 360 strongly preferred; SolidWorks, Onshape, Creo, Inventor, or similar experience is also valuable.
• Understanding of CNC machining and designing machinable parts.
• Hands-on experience with 3D printing and rapid prototyping.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including mechanics, materials, manufacturing, tolerances, GD&T, fasteners, and DFM/DFA.
• Ability to create and read engineering drawings.
• Comfortable with hand tools, measurement equipment, machining, assembly, and troubleshooting.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

Bonus Experience

Experience with any of the following is a plus:

• Robotics, AUVs, ROVs, drones, or other electromechanical systems.
• CNC programming/CAM or operating CNC equipment.
• Manual mill and lathe operation.
• Waterproof enclosures, O-rings, seals, pressure vessels, or subsea systems.
• Motors, thrusters, bearings, propulsion, or rotating machinery.
• FEA or engineering simulation.
• Electronics packaging or electromechanical integration.
• Formula SAE, robotics teams, underwater robotics, rocketry, personal projects, or other hands-on engineering competitions/projects.

Who Will Thrive Here

We're less interested in someone who checks every box than someone who builds things.

The ideal candidate is curious, resourceful, mechanically intuitive, and comfortable with ambiguity. Designs change. Parts break. Tests fail. You'll be expected to figure out why, improve the design, and test it again.

You'll have meaningful ownership over real hardware—and the things you design will be manufactured, assembled, put in the water, and tested.