Staff Mechanical Engineer – Thermal Simulation & Analysis

Apptronik; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer – Thermal Simulation & Analysis to lead the thermal architecture for their humanoid robot, Apollo, in Austin, Texas. This role involves defining cooling strategies and conducting complex thermal simulations to ensure optimal performance and safety.

The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in thermal design, particularly in robotics, with expertise in CFD software and the ability to manage thermal constraints across hardware systems. Join Apptronik and help shape the future of robotics!

Qualifications

• 8+ years of thermal design experience for high-performance systems.
• Expert in CFD and thermal management principles.
• Proven hardware design with thermal constraints.

Responsibilities

• Own thermal roadmap and strategies for the humanoid platform.
• Develop CFD and heat transfer models.
• Predict thermal behavior during dynamic robot activities.
• Conduct physical thermal validation experiments.

Skills

CFD software proficiency

Thermal design experience

Analytical skills

Embedded compute thermal management

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

PhD preferred

Tools

Ansys Icepak/Fluent

Simscale

Job description

Staff Mechanical Engineer – Thermal Simulation & Analysis

Lead the thermal architecture and validation efforts for the Apollo humanoid to ensure performance and safety.

Location: Austin

Job Tags: Hardware

About The Role

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 embodied 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.

The Role Apptronik is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer – Thermal Simulation & Analysis to lead the thermal architecture of our humanoid robot, Apollo. In a humanoid system, high-power actuators, high-performance compute clusters, and dense battery packs are packed into tight, mobile volumes—creating one of the most challenging thermal environments in robotics. As a Staff Engineer, you are the technical authority for the entire "thermal stack". You will move beyond simple steady-state analysis to model complex, transient thermal events during high-intensity robot maneuvers. You will influence the robot's physical architecture from the concept phase, ensuring that we maximize performance and duty cycle without compromising safety or hardware longevity.

Key Responsibilities

• Thermal Architecture Leadership: Own the thermal roadmap for the humanoid platform. Define the cooling strategies (passive, active, or phase-change) for high-torque actuators and high-density compute enclosures.
• High-Fidelity Simulation: Develop complex CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and heat transfer models using industry-standard tools (e.g., Ansys Icepak/Fluent, Simscale, or).
• Transient Duty Cycle Modeling: Predict thermal behavior during dynamic robot activities (walking, lifting..) where power consumption varies rapidly, necessitating complex transient thermal-fluid analysis.
• Multi-Physics Integration: Work closely with Structural Simulation engineers to perform Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) and thermal-stress analysis on critical components like motor housings and battery frames.
• Test & Correlation: Design and lead physical thermal validation experiments. Utilize IR thermography, thermocouples, and flow sensors to correlate real-world data with your simulation models.
• DfX & Manufacturing Support: Collaborate with the DfX team to select specialized materials (TIMs, heat spreaders, high-conductivity alloys) that balance thermal performance with weight and cost.
• Mentorship: Act as the subject matter expert (SME) for thermal issues company-wide, mentoring junior engineers and establishing standardized thermal design rules.

Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years of experience in thermal design and simulation for high-performance electromechanical systems (Robotics, EV, Aerospace, or High-End Computing).
• Simulation Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in CFD software and a deep understanding of conduction, convection (natural and forced), and radiation in complex assemblies.
• Hardware Depth: Proven track record of designing and shipping hardware with challenging thermal constraints; experience with embedded compute thermal management or high-flux motor cooling is a significant plus.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to perform "back-of-the-envelope" thermal calculations to guide design decisions before full CFD results are available.
• Education: BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering (PhD preferred) with a focus on Heat Transfer or Fluid Dynamics.

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

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.