Connector & Interconnect Design Engineer

About the role

Figure builds autonomous humanoid robots designed to operate with human-level intelligence in commercial and residential spaces. This role is centered on the end-to-end development of custom electrical interfaces, bridging the gap between mechanical form and electrical function. The hire will own the complete lifecycle of connector and interconnect solutions from concept to volume production. You will define electrical architectures that allow seamless communication and power delivery across robotic systems. This position demands a balance between creative mechanical packaging and rigorous electrical performance. You will ensure that every interface is reliable, serviceable, and aligned with manufacturing realities. Collaboration with cross-functional teams will drive decisions that impact safety, durability, and scalability. Your work will directly influence how sensors, actuators, and control systems come together in the final robot.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conduct in-depth electrical and mechanical analysis to define connector architectures that meet power, signal, and thermal requirements.
• Create and iterate on 3D models and 2D technical drawings for custom connectors, electromechanical interfaces, and overmolds using advanced CAD tools.
• Develop sealing strategies, contact arrangements, strain relief features, and housing geometries with a strong focus on manufacturability and robustness.
• Author comprehensive manufacturing documentation, including material specifications, assembly instructions, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) drawings.
• Evaluate power delivery metrics such as contact resistance, mating forces, temperature rise, and current derating under various operating conditions.
• Partner with electrical engineers to validate signal integrity, power distribution networks, and shielding effectiveness for high-speed and sensitive circuits.
• Plan and execute validation testing programs that include vibration, thermal cycling, mating cycles, and environmental stress to verify design integrity.
• Drive the supplier lifecycle, managing RFQs, tooling milestones, first article inspections, and final qualification sign-offs.
• Maintain accurate bills of materials, engineering change records, and associated documentation within product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.
• Support prototype assembly activities, perform troubleshooting during lab testing, and execute first article inspections to ensure compliance.
• Define test procedures and acceptance criteria for new connector solutions to accelerate design validation and quality gates.
• Lead root cause analysis for field or lab failures, proposing corrective actions that balance performance, cost, and schedule.
• Standardize connector families and interface libraries to improve reuse, reduce duplication, and streamline integration across robot platforms.
• Represent the interconnect design function in cross-functional reviews, ensuring alignment with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering teams.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor or Master degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Bring a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in interconnect engineering, electromechanical packaging, or connector design roles.
• Demonstrate daily proficiency in 3D CAD software such as Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or equivalent advanced modeling tools.
• Provide a proven history of designing custom electromechanical components, housings, and interface solutions for production environments.
• Show expertise in creating production-ready 2D drawings that correctly apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
• Possess a technical understanding of electrical fundamentals including power dissipation, contact resistance, current derating, and thermal management.
• Have direct experience managing qualification testing and validation plans from design through verification stages.
• Show the ability to work directly with contract manufacturers and external suppliers on design for manufacturing and assembly.
• Exhibit a hands-on approach to hardware prototyping, bench testing, and iterative design refinement based on test results.
• Be comfortable interpreting customer requirements and translating them into robust technical specifications and design constraints.
• Demonstrate strong documentation practices, with clear and traceable records linking requirements, design, verification, and validation activities.
• Commit to following established engineering processes, standards, and quality management systems within a regulated environment.
• Communicate effectively in written and verbal formats, ensuring technical information is accessible to both engineers and manufacturing partners.
• Collaborate effectively in a team setting, contributing to design reviews, failure analysis sessions, and cross-functional decision-making.

Nice to have

• Bring a background from aerospace, robotics, medical devices, defense, or other precision hardware sectors.
• Apply knowledge of insert molding, injection molding, and overmold production design to improve reliability and reduce assembly complexity.
• Experience supporting EVT or DVT builds within a fast-paced startup environment and adapting to changing requirements.
• Use reliability engineering methods such as Weibull analysis, FMEA, or accelerated life testing to predict and mitigate failure modes.
• Leverage PLM platforms like Agile, Windchill, Enovia, or similar systems to manage design data and engineering changes.
• Work with diverse connector technologies and contact interface types, including high-density, low-noise, and ruggedized options.

Practical notes

Total compensation packages may include additional components beyond the base salary range. Specific benefits and final pay depend on individual experience and qualifications.