Mechanical / Robotics Engineer

Gander Robotics Inc; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Gander Robotics Inc is seeking a hands-on Mechanical / Robotics Engineer to design and build autonomous underwater vehicles and related products in a Cambridge, MA setting.

You’ll take mechanical systems from concept and CAD through fabrication, assembly, testing, and iteration, with a strong emphasis on CAD and mechanical design while collaborating with electrical, software, autonomy, and sonar engineers to ensure robust, manufacturable hardware.

Qualifications

• 0–3 years of hands-on mechanical/robotics design experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• U.S. citizenship required to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical components and assemblies for autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, drawings, and BOMs using Fusion 360 or similar.
• Develop parts for CNC machining and 3D printing, applying DFM/DFA principles.
• Build prototypes, test, iterate, and improve designs in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Integrate sensors, electronics, batteries, and propulsion with mechanical systems.
• Work with vendors and shops to manufacture components and transition to repeatable products.

Skills

CAD design

Fusion 360

3D printing

DFM/DFA

GD&T

Mechanical design

AUVs/Robotics

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Robotics/Mechatronics

Tools

SolidWorks

Onshape

Creo

Inventor

Job 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.
• Ability to take a problem from concept → design → fabrication → assembly → test → iteration.
• 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.