Senior Mechanical Engineer — Humanoid Neck & Precision Motion

Rhoda AI; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhoda AI is building a humanoid robotics platform and seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the neck subsystem. You will shape the mechanical architecture, select actuators, and coordinate interfaces to the torso and head. This high-ownership role emphasizes integration across mechanical, electrical, and controls teams.

You will craft CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and lead prototype builds and tests to ensure dynamic performance and manufacturability.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (MS preferred).
• 5+ years in mechanical design of actuated mechanisms in robotics or similar.
• Experience selecting and integrating actuators (motors, gearboxes, transmissions).
• Proficient in mechanism design fundamentals: kinematics, stiffness, backlash, preload, bearings.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical neck architecture: kinematics, joint layout, and packaging within a slender envelope.
• Lead actuation selection and packaging for neck DOF against torque, bandwidth, and backdrivability constraints.
• Define head mass/CG budget; trade head mass vs neck actuator sizing and dynamics with head team.
• Develop and validate head stabilization with controls engineers for stable imagery from head-mounted cameras.
• Design for quiet, smooth, lifelike motion; manage gear noise, cogging, and resonances near users.

Skills

Actuation design

Gimbals design

System integration

Robotics experience

Cross-disciplinary

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

MS preferred

Tools

Catia

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Onshape

Job description

Rhoda AI is building a humanoid robotics platform and seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the neck subsystem. You will shape the mechanical architecture, select actuators, and coordinate interfaces to the torso and head. This high-ownership role emphasizes integration across mechanical, electrical, and controls teams.

You will craft CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and lead prototype builds and tests to ensure dynamic performance and manufacturability.