Senior Mechanical Engineer – Robotics

Calder Search; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Calder Search is partnering with an early-stage robotics company in San Francisco building autonomous hardware for industrial applications. We seek a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own a core mechanical subsystem within a highly integrated robotic platform.

This hands-on role spans from first-principles analysis and design through fabrication, assembly, testing and deployment, with ownership over design decisions and hardware iteration.

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing complex mechanical or precision electromechanical systems.
• Strong mechanical fundamentals and first-principles engineering ability.
• Strong FEA and hand-calculation experience.
• Experience with precision motion components (linear stages, ball screws, actuators and bearings).
• Strong CAD, GD&T and tolerance-analysis capability.
• Experience taking a meaningful subsystem through the full design, build and validation lifecycle.
• Ability to work across mechanical, electrical, controls and software interfaces.
• A hands-on build-and-test mentality.

Responsibilities

• Own complex mechanical and electromechanical subsystems from concept through deployed hardware.
• Design precision mechanisms involving linear motion, actuators, bearings and tightly toleranced assemblies.
• Use hand calculations, FEA and engineering trade studies to drive design decisions.
• Develop detailed CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T and tolerance stack-ups.
• Integrate mechanical hardware with sensing, electrical and controls systems.
• Work closely with software, electrical and controls engineers at system level.
• Support fabrication, assembly, testing and rapid hardware iteration.
• Diagnose problems on real hardware and turn test results into improved designs.

Skills

Mechanical fundamentals

FEA

Hand calculations

Precision motion components

CAD

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Full design lifecycle

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on build-and-test

Job description

We're working with a well-funded, early-stage robotics company in San Francisco building complex autonomous hardware for large-scale industrial applications.

They're looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of a core mechanical subsystem within a highly integrated robotic platform.

This is a hands-on mechanical engineering role for someone who wants responsibility beyond a narrow component or individual stage of the development process. You'll take hardware from first-principles analysis and mechanical design through fabrication, assembly, integration, testing and deployment.

What you'll work on

• Own complex mechanical and electromechanical subsystems from concept through deployed hardware
• Design precision mechanisms involving linear motion, actuators, bearings and tightly toleranced assemblies
• Use hand calculations, FEA and engineering trade studies to drive design decisions
• Develop detailed CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T and tolerance stack-ups
• Integrate mechanical hardware with sensing, electrical and controls systems
• Work closely with software, electrical and controls engineers at system level
• Support fabrication, assembly, testing and rapid hardware iteration
• Diagnose problems on real hardware and turn test results into improved designs

What we're looking for

• 5+ years of experience designing complex mechanical or precision electromechanical systems
• Strong mechanical fundamentals and first-principles engineering ability
• Strong FEA and hand-calculation experience
• Experience with precision motion components such as linear stages, ball screws, actuators and bearings
• Strong CAD, GD&T and tolerance-analysis capability
• Experience taking a meaningful subsystem through the full design, build and validation lifecycle
• Comfortable working across mechanical, electrical, controls and software interfaces
• A hands-on build-and-test mentality

We're particularly interested in engineers from robotics, industrial automation, semiconductor equipment, precision machinery, aerospace, automotive or other advanced hardware environments.

Direct robotics experience is useful but isn't essential. What's more important is having designed and delivered real mechanical hardware involving motion, loads, precision and electromechanical integration.

This is a small, highly technical engineering environment where you'll have significant ownership over what you design and build.

Compensation: $165,000–$190,000 base + equity

Visa sponsorship/transfer: Available for strong candidates