Senior Mechanical Engineer (Actuators)

Foundation; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Foundation is hiring a Mechanical Design Engineer to own the mechanical design of high-performance electromechanical actuators for humanoid robotics. You will shepherd concepts through testing, validation, and production, ensuring torque density, efficiency, manufacturability, reliability, and packaging meet aggressive goals.

You will collaborate with electrical engineering, motor design, controls, embedded systems, and manufacturing teams to create tightly integrated actuator systems where

Qualifications

• 3+ years design experience, with a focus on high-precision mechanism assemblies and rotation-related hardware.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or related field.
• Strong fundamentals in statics, dynamics, controls, electromagnetism, and related areas.
• Experience with thermal analysis, FEA, and 3D CAD in a professional setting.
• Familiarity with electric motors, motor drivers, gear reductions, and motion control technologies.
• Hands-on fabrication and prototyping experience.
• Experience in reliability testing, failure analysis, and implementing design changes in production environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design of high-performance electromechanical systems from concept through validation and production.
• Push the limits of torque density, efficiency, manufacturability, and packaging.
• Collaborate with EE, motor design, controls, embedded systems, and manufacturing teams to integrate actuator systems.
• Define new architectures and influence technical direction as the actuator organization grows.

Skills

Precision mech assemblies

Rotational assemblies

Mechatronics background

Thermal analysis

FEA

3D CAD

Education

Mechanical Engineering / Mechatronics degree

Tools

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

3D CAD software

Job description

Why are We Hiring for this Role:

• Join a small, high-impact team building the next generation of rotary actuators that will power every degree of freedom in our humanoid robots.


• You’ll own the mechanical design of high-performance electromechanical systems, pushing the limits of torque density, efficiency, manufacturability, reliability, and packaging.


• This role spans the entire product lifecycle—from concept generation and rapid prototyping through testing, validation, and production—giving you end-to-end ownership of the hardware you create.


• You’ll work alongside experts in electrical engineering, motor design, controls, embedded systems, and manufacturing to develop tightly integrated actuator systems where every gram, millimeter, and watt matters.


• As our actuator organization grows, you’ll have the opportunity to help define new architectures, influence technical direction, and shape the future of one of the most critical technologies in humanoid robotics.

What Kind of Person We are Looking for:

• 3+ years design experience, with a preference for high precision mechanism assemblies and or rotational assemblies (gears, motors, etc).


• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or a related field.


• Strong fundamentals in statics, dynamics and controls, electromagnetism, and other related studies.


• Experience with thermal analysis, FEA, and 3D CAD programs in a professional environment


• Familiarity with various electric motor, motor driver, gear reduction mechanisms, and motion control technologies


• Hands-on fabrication and prototyping experience


• Experience in reliability testing, failure analysis, and potential implementation of design changes in production environments