Senior Mechanical Engineer - Actuation

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct hire

Job summary

Apptronik, a human-centered robotics company, seeks a Mechanical Engineer specializing in electric actuation design to advance our humanoid system Apollo. You will design, analyze, and prototype actuators, guide teammates, and collaborate across disciplines to enable scalable production.

The role emphasizes hands-on prototyping, DFMA optimization, and documentation in a fast-paced startup setting. A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and 6+ years in actuation/robotics are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required.
• 6+ years developing actuation and robotic systems or similar.
• Hands-on experience prototyping and testing mechanical components.
• Strong communication and teamwork in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead detailed design and analysis of actuators (rotary and linear).
• Guide junior engineers to improve their designs.
• Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary team of engineers.
• Contribute to concept generation and design iterations.
• Perform analysis (FEA) to drive design decisions.
• Create GD&T-informed drawings, BOMs, and procurement docs.
• Produce assembly instructions and project documentation.
• Participate in pilot builds and DFMA optimization.

Skills

CAD Proficiency

Prototyping

Actuation design

Leadership

DFMA & GD&T

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

6+ years actuation/robotic systems experience

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

JOB SUMMARY

We're looking for highly motivated and talented engineers with hands-on experience and a passion for robotics to join our team. Specifically, we seek a Mechanical Engineer with proven capabilities in electric actuation design – electric motors, drivetrains, electromechanical packaging, joint/mechanism design, and testing to support the development of our next-generation humanoid robotics system.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead detailed design and analysis of actuators (rotary and linear)
• Guide junior engineers to improve their designs
• Collaborate with a small cross-disciplinary team of engineers
• Participate in creative brainstorming for concept generation
• Conduct engineering analysis to drive design decisions
• Compare concepts via iterative design, prototype, assembly, and test
• Perform analysis (FEA, etc.) to optimize and validate design
• Create GD&T-informed drawings, a Bill of Material, and procurement documentation
• Produce assembly instructions and finalize project documentation
• Participate in pilot build of your designs
• Perform DVP&R to ensure design meets requirementsIterate on design to harden for scalability and DFMA

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Mastery of engineering fundamentals / first principles
• High proficiency in CAD (NX, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar)
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience prototyping and testing mechanical components.
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration
• Outstanding organizational and time management skills
• The ability to multi‑task and manage conflicting deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Great team player able to perform within a dynamic start‑up environment
• Knowledge of kinematics, structures (statics), dynamics, joints/mechanisms, and electromechanical packaging optimization
• Experience in designing with planetary gears and linear transmissions is preferred
• Experience in humanoid/legged robotics is preferred
• Understanding of motor control systems and PCB layout principles is preferred

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 6+ years in development of actuation and/or robotic systems or similar

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate

*This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Technology Control Restrictions: As a person in this position will have access to technical data and/or computer software maintained by the Company, which includes export‑controlled technical data and/or computer software, successful applicants must be eligible under U.S. export control regulations to access such information.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Apptronik’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.