Senior Gear Design Engineer - Robotic Hand Transmissions

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

Job summary

Figure is an AI robotics company based in San Jose, CA, seeking a Senior Gear Design Engineer to own gear and transmission design for humanoid robot hands, delivering high-density gear trains from sizing to mass production.

You will apply KISSsoft and CATIA to optimize gears, define manufacturing strategies with suppliers, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet demanding packaging and durability targets.

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.

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

KISSsoft

CATIA

AGMA/ISO standards

Gear metrology

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or similar

Tools

CATIA

KISSsoft

Job description

Figure is an AI robotics company based in San Jose, CA, seeking a Senior Gear Design Engineer to own gear and transmission design for humanoid robot hands, delivering high-density gear trains from sizing to mass production.

You will apply KISSsoft and CATIA to optimize gears, define manufacturing strategies with suppliers, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet demanding packaging and durability targets.