Staff Mechanical Engineer – Upper Body Tech Lead Austin, TX

Apptronik Systems, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A robotics technology company is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the upper body development of a humanoid robot. This high-visibility role involves ownership of design and integration for the torso, head, and arms. The ideal candidate will have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and at least 8 years of expertise in robotic systems design. Responsibilities include managing complex surfacing and leading design verification tests. The position offers opportunities for technical mentorship and innovation in a cutting-edge field.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems.
• Experience with surfacing tools and complex geometries.
• Ability to lead technical initiatives and align stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define mechanical architecture for torso, head, and arms.
• Manage complex surfacing and integration of robotic limbs.
• Lead design verification testing and mentor engineers.

Skills

Mechanical design of robotic systems

Technical leadership

Class-A surfacing expertise

Packaging integration

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Catia

Job description

Staff Mechanical Engineer – Upper Body Tech Lead

Austin, TX

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.

Job Summary

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to serve as the technical lead for Apollo’s upper body. This is a high‑visibility leadership role responsible for the torso, head, and arm assemblies.

You will own the complete lifecycle—architecture, design, integration, and verification—of the upper body stack. This position requires a rare blend of deep kinematic expertise and the ability to solve extreme “packaging” challenges, where high‑performance compute, high‑density batteries, and sensitive perception sensors must coexist within a compact, dynamic, and thermally‑constrained frame. Finally, you will be responsible for translating visionary industrial design into high‑fidelity, functional A‑surfaces.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Upper Body Ownership: Define the mechanical architecture for the torso, head, and arms. Lead the trade‑off studies between mass distribution, range of motion (ROM), and structural rigidity.
• ID Intent & A‑Surfaces: Serve as the primary bridge between Industrial Design (ID) and Engineering. Responsible for incorporating ID intent into final A‑Surfaces, ensuring that mechanical constraints (draft, wall thickness, cooling vents) do not compromise the iconic Apollo head design language and brand identity.
• Aesthetic & Functional Synthesis: Manage the complex surfacing of the robot’s “skin,” ensuring seamless transitions between structural elements and aesthetic covers while maintaining IP (Ingress Protection) and thermal venting requirements.
• Kinematic Structures: Drive the development of high‑performance robotic limbs. Design innovative mechanisms that manage extreme dynamic loads while maintaining the precision required for human‑like manipulation.
• Structural Integrity: Lead the design of the primary “chassis” (torso) to protect internal electronics from high‑energy impact events (e.g., falls) using advanced materials and topology optimization.
• Subsystem Packaging: Lead the tight‑space integration of the compute cluster (NVIDIA Jetson/SoMs), battery modules, and perception sensors (LiDAR, Depth Cameras) within the torso and head.
• Interconnect & Cable Management: Architect the routing strategy for complex wire harnesses through high‑flex joints (shoulders, neck, elbows), ensuring multi‑million‑cycle reliability and signal integrity.
• DVT Ownership: Define and execute the Design Verification Test (DVT) plan for the upper body stack, including environmental, vibration, and lifecycle testing.
• Technical Mentorship: Conduct deep‑dive design reviews and establish company‑wide standards for high‑performance robotic design, mentoring senior and junior engineers.

Skills and Requirements

• Experience: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems.
• Drive Through Influence: Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross‑functional stakeholders without direct reporting authority, building consensus on complex architectural trade‑offs.
• Surfacing Expertise: Proven ability to work with Class‑A surfaces and complex geometries; expert‑level proficiency in surfacing tools within SolidWorks, NX, Catia, etc.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Proven track record of designing multi‑axis robotic arms or high‑DOF dynamic mechanisms.
• Packaging Mastery: Exceptional skills in “tight‑space” integration; experience with ruggedized electronics packaging or automotive/aerospace interiors is a plus.
• Education: BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

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.

Technology Control Restrictions

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

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.