Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Robotic Hand

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

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.