Senior Mechanical Engineer

Cobot; California (MO); On-site; USD 185,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited paid vacation time

401(k) plan

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision plans

Job summary

Cobot is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to design electromechanical systems crucial for their robots. You'll work through the entire process, ensuring mechanisms are reliable and manufacturable.

This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams and offers a relocation stipend if you are joining the team from outside California. A degree in Mechanical Engineering and significant experience in relevant design is required.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of mechanical design experience in robotics or similar projects.
• Proficiency in FEA and Mechanical CAD software, particularly Solidworks.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of electromechanical systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet design requirements.
• Work with suppliers and technicians to construct functional systems.

Skills

Mechanical CAD software proficiency (Solidworks)

Mechanical design experience

Failure analysis and corrective action

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

3D printers

Mills and basic shop tools

Job description

Cobot is looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to design and deliver the electromechanical systems at the heart of our robots. You’ll take ownership from concept through deployment, creating mechanisms that are reliable, manufacturable, and field‑ready. Working alongside a cross‑functional team of engineers and partners, you’ll help bring advanced robotics from design to real‑world impact.

Join us to reimagine the future of human‑robot interaction.

Collaborative Robotics is a team of innovators and builders redefining the future of human‑robot interaction. We are working to realize a world where robots are a trusted extension of your surroundings. They work, adapt, and react around you. Not the other way around.

This role is located at our Santa Clara, CA headquarters. Cobot will offer a relocation stipend if you are relocating to join our Santa Clara office and currently live more than 50 miles outside of the office location.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of system‑critical electromechanical hardware.
• Collaborate with our hardware, software, safety, simulation, controls/perception, and AI teams to ensure our design meets all customer and engineering requirements.
• Work with component suppliers, machine shops, internal build technicians, and partner engineering functions to construct a physical, functional system.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• 6+ years of experience in mechanical design.
• Proficiency in Mechanical CAD software (≥2 years of Solidworks required).
• 3+ years of mechanical design experience in robotics or projects of similar size and complexity.
• Experience designing for high‑volume manufacturing, including aluminum casting and plastic injection molding processes.
• Ability to rapidly uncover, root cause, and provide corrective action for failure modes of an electromechanical system, while documenting within a DFMEA.
• Proficiency in FEA. Ability to set up, run and interpret the results of an analysis, using hand calculations to confirm accuracy.
• Ability to implement DFM/DFA best practices on both new and existing products.
• Hands‑on experience with 3D‑printers, mills, and basic shop tools for prototyping.
• Clear examples of “cradle to grave” ownership of an electromechanical assembly.
• Ability to communicate unambiguous requirements to vendors, manufacturers, and internal stakeholders.
• Highly motivated teammate with excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Enjoy working in a fast‑paced, collaborative and dynamic start‑up environment as part of a small team.
• Willing to occasionally travel.
• Must have and maintain US work authorization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Has had meaningful ownership of the mechanical design of a robotics system that has been field‑deployed or deployed with an external customer.
• Proficiency in Solidworks surface modeling, and the ability to work with imported surface models provided by the industrial design team.
• Proficiency in applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 (2009 or later).
• Experience with designing motion control systems with sensors, actuators, motors, and complex mechanisms.
• Experience simulating dynamic/kinematic models alongside FEA analysis for lightweight structures.
• Experience with using CFD for thermal analysis.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual base salary range for this position is $185,000 - $210,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision plans, 401(k) plan, unlimited paid vacation time, paid sick leave, and parental leave. Our salary ranges are determined by role and experience level. The range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the noted geographic area. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

Recruitment Agencies

Collaborative Robotics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our employees. Collaborative Robotics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.