Staff Mechanical Engineer - Robotic Hand Design Tech Lead

About the role

The position drives highly dexterous, human-like manipulation for unstructured environments. You will partner with multiple disciplines to deliver a safe, versatile, and production-ready hand system.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

A multi-fingered humanoid hand takes form through structural architecture that balances dexterity, strength, and weight for complex tasks.

Robust, multi-DOF finger and joint mechanisms are developed to endure off-axis loads, impacts, and real-world use while ensuring durability.

Structural analysis, FEA, and durability validation are owned to address fatigue, wear, loosening, and failure modes for high cycle life.

Designs are rapidly prototyped, tested, and refined based on hands-on evaluation and system-level feedback to accelerate iteration.

Engineers are mentored, design reviews are led, and best practices for dexterous manipulation and hand architecture are established.

Requirements

A B.S in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required.

8 years of experience in mechanical design for complex robotic systems is required.

Cross-functional technical initiatives are led, and stakeholders are aligned without direct reporting authority.

Class-A surfacing tools within SolidWorks, NX, or Catia are used with expert-level proficiency.

A proven track record of designing multi-axis robotic arms or high-DOF dynamic mechanisms is required.

The role requires performing reliably in a deskbound role with occasional lifting of 15 pounds.

Vision and hearing must be sufficient to read materials and communicate effectively.

Nice to have

Direct experience with robotic hands, dexterous manipulation, or anthropomorphic mechanisms is preferred.

Familiarity with human hand biomechanics or bio-inspired design principles is preferred.

Experience with tendon-driven systems, cable routing, or underactuated mechanisms is preferred.

A background in compliant or soft robotic structures is preferred.

Experience integrating tactile sensing or force feedback into mechanical designs is preferred.

Knowledge of advanced materials and surface treatments for wear and grip optimization is preferred.

Practical notes

This is a direct hire role based in Austin, TX, and Apptronik provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Human-centered robotics focuses on machines that safely collaborate with people in everyday settings. Robotic hands for humanoids must balance strength, compliance, and precision. Common tools include SolidWorks, NX, or Catia for surfacing and parametric modeling. Success in this role depends on cross-functional collaboration, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing for scale.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.