Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Deftai; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily meals stipend

Job summary

Deftai is seeking a mechanical design engineer to lead end-to-end development of a robotic humanoid hand for its next-generation wheeled robot. You will own multi-DOF mechanisms, select actuators, and ensure reliable grasping through tight GD&T and FEA-driven iterations.

Work closely with electrical and software teams on sensor placement, thermal management, and control interfaces, while coordinating with suppliers to hit aggressive timelines. This onsite SF role offers a competitive package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent.
• 3+ years designing complex electromechanical assemblies, with robotic actuators or precision mechanisms.
• Track record taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production.
• Proficient in 3D modeling software: CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Onshape.
• GD&T engineering drawings and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience with fabrication methods for low and high volume manufacturing.
• Basic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals.
• Familiarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging.
• Understanding interdependencies between electronics, mechanics and embedded software.
• Excellent communication skills in high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end mechanical design of hand/end-effector for next-gen humanoid robot.
• Design, prototype, and iterate multi-DOF hand mechanisms, optimizing size, weight, payload, and cost.
• Select and integrate actuators and transmission elements to enable grasping and basic manipulation.
• Perform structural FEA, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T; release detailed drawings for machining, printing, and molding.
• Drive rapid design-build-test cycles, assembling prototypes and evaluating results.
• Collaborate with electrical on sensor placement, cable management, and thermal constraints; work with software on kinematics and control.
• Manage suppliers to meet design specs and tight timelines.

Skills

3D CAD modeling

GD&T drawings

Tolerance analysis

Low/High-volume fabrication

Electrical fundamentals

PCBAs familiarity

Electromechanical integration

Strong communication

Problem solving

Growth mindset

Python/ Matlab

Team collaboration

Education

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

Tools

CATIA

NX

SolidWorks

Onshape

Job description

What you'll do

• You will own the end-to-end mechanical design of new robotic humanoid hand/end-effector designs for Deft’s next generation wheeled humanoid robot, cooperating with and reporting directly to the CEO.
• Design, prototype, and iterate on multi-DOF hand mechanisms including finger linkages, joint assemblies, and palm structures, optimizing for compactness, weight, payload, and cost.
• Select and integrate actuators (miniature BLDC motors, servos, or tendon-driven systems) and transmission elements (geartrains, pulleys, cable routing) to achieve reliable grasping and basic manipulation.
• Perform structural FEA, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T for all hand components, and release detailed drawings for machining, 3D printing, and injection molding.
• Drive rapid design-build-test cycles — you'll be in the lab as much as at your desk, assembling prototypes, running tests, and feeding results back into the next revision.
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineering on sensor placement, cable management, and thermal constraints, and with the software team on joint kinematics and control interfaces.
• Manage suppliers to execute projects according to the design specifications and tight timelines.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent degree.
• 3+ years of experience designing complex electromechanical assemblies, with at least some work on robotic actuators, mechanisms, or precision mechanisms.
• Track record of taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production
• High proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Onshape) .
• High proficiency in GD&T engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience with designing for fabrication methods of low volume manufacturing and high volume manufacturing.
• Basic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals.
• Familiarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging .
• Familiarity with the interdependencies between electronics, mechanics and embedded software .
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in unstructured and high-pressure environments.
• Understanding of how to balance development speed versus product quality.
• Problem solving skills via first principles thinking.
• Growth mindset: curious and hungry to grow.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in heat transfer and experience in transient thermal analysis .
• Python/Matlab knowledge, both in data structure management, UI development, symbolic equations, and iterative solvers.
• D aily meals stipend

Expected Compensation

• $120,000 - $250,000 annually + equity + benefits

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.

This is a full-time, five-day-a-week onsite role in our San Francisco, CA, office. Please confirm if you can meet this onsite requirement.