Staff Mechanical Engineer – Upper Body Tech Lead

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

Drive Through Influence: A proven ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders without direct reporting authority. You must be able to build 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...

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 and/or EXPERIENCE

Experience: 8 years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems

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

This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

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.