MTS: Mechanical Design Engineer

Walden Robotics, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and bonus

Company equity

Insurance programs

401(k) with company match

Flexible PTO

Daily lunch

Job summary

Walden Robotics, Inc. is hiring a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and ship high-performance robotic systems. You will own defined mechanical components from concept through production, coordinating with controls, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams to deliver robust hardware.

The role emphasizes hands-on bring-up, validation, and scalable production designs, with opportunities to influence design standards and mentoring of teammates.

Qualifications

• 5+ years delivering mechanical or electromechanical products from concept through production.
• Strong experience with mechanisms, structures, joints, bearings, housings and packaging.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and GD&T with tolerance analysis.
• Hands-on experience building, instrumenting, and testing hardware.
• Ability to collaborate across controls, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams.

Responsibilities

• Design robotic mechanical components and subassemblies (mechanisms, structures, joints, housings, packaging).
• Perform sizing and validation via first-principles analysis and FEA.
• Own designs from concept to production release with external manufacturers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate designs into the robot platform.
• Plan and execute testing to characterize performance and root causes.
• Contribute to mechanical design standards and share knowledge.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD

GD&T

FEA analysis

Hands-on testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MS in Mechanical Engineering

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

NX

FEA software

Job description

We are hiring a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and ship high-performance mechanical systems for our robot. In this role, you will own the design of defined mechanical components and subassemblies—mechanisms, structures, joints, housings, sensor packaging, and subsystem interfaces. You will work closely with controls, electrical, firmware, systems, and manufacturing teams to translate robot-level requirements into robust hardware and mature prototypes into reliable, high-volume production designs. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives owning designs end to end, from first-principles analysis through hands-on bring-up, system integration, validation, and into production.

Core Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver robotic mechanical components and subassemblies, including mechanisms, structural assemblies, joints, linkages, housings, bearing systems, and integrated sensor and electronics packaging.
• Perform component sizing and validation through first-principles analysis and FEA—tolerance stack-ups, structural and fatigue analysis, stiffness, thermal behavior, and load-path evaluation.
• Own assigned designs from concept through DFM/DFA, prototype builds, and production release, partnering with external manufacturers and suppliers to ensure high-quality parts and assembly.
• Partner cross-functionally with systems, controls, electrical, and firmware teams to define requirements and integrate mechanical designs into the broader robot platform.
• Participate in design reviews and hardware bring-up; plan and execute component-, subsystem-, and robot-level testing to characterize performance and root-cause failures.
• Contribute to mechanical design standards and best practices for robotic system development and share technical knowledge across the team.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience delivering mechanical or electromechanical products from concept through production, or an MS degree plus 3 years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong experience in mechanical system design, including mechanisms, structures, joints, bearings, housings, material selection, and mechanical packaging.
• Strong proficiency with 3D CAD—SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX—and rigorous application of GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Demonstrated analytical ability using both hand calculations and FEA for structural, fatigue, stiffness, and thermal design decisions.
• Hands-on experience building, instrumenting, and testing mechanical or electromechanical hardware, including system integration and systematic troubleshooting.
• Strong communication, ownership, and a collaborative, cross-functional approach to development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with robotic systems, preferably humanoid, mobile, and/or manipulation robots.
• Experience designing robot mechanisms such as articulated joints, limbs, end effectors, linkages, or lightweight structural assemblies.
• Experience integrating actuators, sensors, electronics, wiring, and thermal systems into tightly packaged assemblies, and with high-volume manufacturing of precision mechanical components.

Walden Robotics offers a competitive total compensation program, including salary, annual cash bonus, company equity, company-subsidized insurance programs, 401(k) with company match, flexible PTO, daily lunch, and other benefits. The pay ranges noted on our posts are for salary only.

Walden Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [e-mail].

Walden Robotics participates in E-Verify. If you receive an offer of employment from Walden, you will need to go through the E-Verify process of digital verification of your employment authorization documents as provided on the Form I-9. Participation in E-Verify does not limit your right to work and verification will only be completed after you become an employee with Walden Robotics.

At Walden Robotics, we envision a world where general-purpose robots dramatically improve the quality of life for all people—supporting us at home, at work, in factories, on farms, and beyond. To accomplish this, we are building a team of exceptional professionals who combine world-class technical skills with creative vision, grounded in humility and collaboration.