Senior Gear Design Engineer - Robotic Hand Systems

Figure AI; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Figure AI, an AI robotics company in San Jose, seeks a Senior Gear Design Engineer to own gear and transmission design for a humanoid robot hand. This role covers sizing, validation, and mass production, with deep involvement in gear analysis using KISSsoft and CATIA.

You will work closely with actuator, structures, EE, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust designs, manufacturability, and lifelike performance in demanding packaging and loads.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience designing gears and geared transmissions.
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or similar field.
• Demonstrated ownership of complete gear designs from initial sizing through mass manufacturing.
• Proficiency in KISSsoft (or equivalent) for gear rating, contact analysis, and micro‑geometry optimization.
• Proficiency in CATIA (or equivalent high‑end 3D CAD) for complex geometry and large assemblies.
• Working knowledge of AGMA/ISO gear rating standards, gear metrology, and tolerancing.
• Experience with gear manufacturing processes (hobbing, shaping, skiving, grinding, powder metal, MIM, or injection molding) and supplier development.
• A strong team player with a high sense of agency — you take ownership of outcomes, communicate openly, and elevate the people around you.

Responsibilities

• Own gear design end‑to‑end: system‑level sizing, macro and micro geometry definition, rating and life analysis, prototyping, validation, and ramp to mass production.
• Perform gear sizing, contact/bending stress analysis, and micro‑geometry optimization (profile and lead modifications) in KISSsoft to meet efficiency, durability, backlash, and NVH targets.
• Design gears, shafts, and transmission assemblies in 3D CAD (CATIA) that satisfy extreme packaging, load, and durability requirements of a high‑DOF robotic hand.
• Define gear manufacturing strategy — cutting, grinding, powder metal, MIM, or plastics — and drive DFM with suppliers from first articles through high‑volume production.
• Generate accurate 2D drawings with gear data tables and GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and define inspection and metrology plans for incoming quality.
• Build and run test rigs to characterize efficiency, backlash, wear, and fatigue life; correlate test data back to analytical models.
• Collaborate closely with actuator, structures, EE, and manufacturing teams — proactively identifying risks, driving decisions, and unblocking the program without waiting to be asked.

Skills

Gear design

CATIA proficiency

KISSsoft experience

AGMA/ISO gear standards

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering/Robotics

Tools

CATIA

KISSsoft

Job description

Figure AI, an AI robotics company in San Jose, seeks a Senior Gear Design Engineer to own gear and transmission design for a humanoid robot hand. This role covers sizing, validation, and mass production, with deep involvement in gear analysis using KISSsoft and CATIA.

You will work closely with actuator, structures, EE, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust designs, manufacturability, and lifelike performance in demanding packaging and loads.