Senior Drivetrain Engineer - Robotics Actuators & Gearboxes

Apptronik; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Drivetrain Engineer to join our robotics team in Austin. You will lead the design, testing, and optimization of drivetrain technologies for electric actuators, advancing gearboxes and gear tooth profiles to meet mass, efficiency, and reliability goals.

You will work with a small cross-disciplinary engineering team in a fast-paced startup environment, applying first principles and DFMA to scale production while ensuring quality and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in development of drivetrains, gearboxes, actuators, or similar, specifically within robotics, automotive, or aerospace industries.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, build, and test drivetrain technologies for use in electric actuators.
• Design drivetrains to optimize for mass, volume, inertia, efficiency, torques, and speeds.
• Design gear tooth profiles to optimize for backlash, efficiency, strength, and lifetime.
• Select layout and type of bearings based on performance characteristics, loads, and packaging.
• Select lubrication strategy with maintenance, performance, and lifetime in mind.
• Perform analysis (FEA, gear analysis software, static analysis, etc) to optimize and validate design.
• Create GD&T-informed drawings, a Bill of Material, and procurement documentation.
• Produce assembly instructions and finalize project documentation.
• Collaborate with a small cross-disciplinary team of engineers.

Skills

Drivetrain design

Gear design principles

Tribology knowledge

Engineering fundamentals

Teamwork

Communication

Time management

DFMA

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

KISSsoft

Romax

NX

SolidWorks

Onshape

Job description

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Drivetrain Engineer to join our robotics team in Austin. You will lead the design, testing, and optimization of drivetrain technologies for electric actuators, advancing gearboxes and gear tooth profiles to meet mass, efficiency, and reliability goals.

You will work with a small cross-disciplinary engineering team in a fast-paced startup environment, applying first principles and DFMA to scale production while ensuring quality and performance.