Staff Mechanical Engineer

About the role

Apptronik is building AI-powered humanoid robots designed to assist in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and home environments. In this capacity, you will serve as the Technical Lead for robotic hand design, owning the end-to-end mechanical architecture for our Apollo platform to realize human-like manipulation capabilities. The role demands that you translate high-level system requirements into concrete mechanical strategies that allow the robot to interact with the physical world reliably and intuitively. You will be responsible for defining the structural blueprint of multi-fingered hands, determining how every joint, ligament, and actuator works in concert under load. Success in this position requires a balance of creativity and rigor, ensuring that designs are both innovative in concept and manufacturable in practice. You will work at the intersection of mechanism design and systems integration, ensuring that the hand behaves as intended when interfacing with unstructured environments. This position is pivotal in moving our technology from simulation and theory into robust, real-world applications that meet stringent durability and performance criteria.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Define the structural architecture for multi-finger humanoid hands, establishing the palm layout, joint topology, and load paths that govern overall strength and stability.
• Develop multi-DOF mechanisms that maintain functionality when subjected to off-axis loads and unpredictable real-world impacts, ensuring consistent performance.
• Partner closely with the actuation team to integrate tendon-driven systems, focusing specifically on transmission efficiency, cable routing strategies, and the mitigation of parasitic motion.
• Engineer designs for complex manipulation tasks such as precision pinching, secure grasping, and tool use, carefully balancing compliance for adaptability with stiffness for control.
• Perform detailed FEA simulations and rigorous validation testing to verify durability, assess fatigue resistance, and confirm high cycle life under demanding operational conditions.
• Manage high-density packaging challenges to house electronics, sensors, and wiring within severely constrained spatial limits without compromising functionality.
• Oversee rapid prototyping workflows and iterate designs based on system-level performance feedback, ensuring alignment with project milestones.
• Lead DFM and DFA efforts, establishing clear tolerancing schemes and coordinating effectively with suppliers to enable smooth transitions to mass production.
• Mentor engineering staff through technical guidance and facilitate design reviews to uphold and elevate the team's technical standards consistently.
• Establish testing protocols and metrics to quantitatively evaluate hand performance across a spectrum of tasks and environmental conditions.
• Collaborate with software and controls teams to ensure mechanical designs accommodate sensor feedback and real-time adjustments for adaptive grasping.
• Drive the documentation of design decisions, trade studies, and rationales to maintain institutional knowledge and support future scalability.
• Identify failure modes and implement preventative measures, integrating redundancy or passive safety features where mechanical risk is high.
• Liaise with industrial design and user experience teams to ensure the mechanical form factor aligns with ergonomic and aesthetic objectives for real-world deployment.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or Robotics from an accredited institution.
• Possess a minimum of 8 years of professional experience focused on the mechanical design of complex robotic systems, demonstrating a track record of responsibility.
• Show proven ability to lead technical initiatives and build consensus across cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and product management.
• Demonstrate expert-level proficiency in surfacing tools, with advanced capabilities in SolidWorks, NX, or Catia for complex 3D modeling and assembly management.
• Have documented experience designing multi-axis robotic arms or high-DOF dynamic mechanisms that operate in non-ideal conditions.
• Maintain a strong background in compact, ruggedized packaging, with an understanding of how to protect sensitive components in demanding environments.
• Be capable of lifting 15 pounds and performing standard office-based physical tasks, including extended periods of standing or walking when required.
• Exhibit strong analytical skills to interpret test data, troubleshoot mechanical issues, and refine designs based on empirical evidence.
• Communicate effectively in a collaborative setting, articulating technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Adhere to safety protocols and quality standards, ensuring that all designs comply with relevant industry regulations and company guidelines.
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, meeting aggressive project deadlines without compromising attention to detail.
• Willingness to relocate to or remain in the Austin, TX area if required for the successful execution of role responsibilities.

Nice to have

• Direct, hands-on experience with robotic hands, anthropomorphic mechanisms, or dexterous manipulation in real-world applications.
• Familiarity with bio-inspired design principles or deep knowledge of human hand biomechanics to inform mechanical decisions.
• Experience with underactuated mechanisms, tendon routing optimization, or cable-driven systems that enhance dexterity and reduce complexity.
• Background in soft or compliant robotic structures, particularly in creating hybrid rigid-compliant architectures for improved interaction.
• Experience integrating force feedback or tactile sensing directly into the mechanical architecture to enable closed-loop control.
• Knowledge of advanced materials, coatings, and surface treatments aimed at optimizing grip, reducing wear, and extending component life.

Skills & tools

• Mechanical design and structural architecture for complex electromechanical systems.
• FEA and fatigue analysis to predict performance and longevity under cyclic loading.
• DFM and DFA methodologies to streamline production and reduce assembly complexity.
• Surfacing proficiency in SolidWorks, NX, or Catia for detailed geometry creation and modification.
• Multi-DOF mechanism design, including kinematics, dynamics, and motion planning considerations.
• Tendon-driven and underactuated systems, with an understanding of cable compliance and tension management.

Practical notes

This is a direct hire position with full-time hours, and no agency solicitations will be considered. Apptronik is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming diverse talent and perspectives into our workplace. The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Austin, TX location and engage with the company's mission to commercialize humanoid robotics. Please ensure your application clearly reflects your direct experience as outlined in the requirements to be considered for this technical leadership role.