Hardware / Mechanical Engineering Intern — Spring & Summer 2027
About The Position
Simbe is seeking a Hardware / Mechanical Engineering Intern to help design, test, and improve the Tally autonomous robot platform. The intern will work with the Hardware Engineering team on a scoped project tied to current team priorities; the project will be selected closer to the start date. Depending on those priorities, work may include mechanical component design or redesign, design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly improvements, prototyping, bench testing, reliability improvements, manufacturing support, or early concepts for future Tally platform generations. The internship provides hands-on experience building physical robotic systems and solving practical mechanical engineering problems. Interns work full time at Simbe’s Burlingame, California headquarters as part of a structured cohort. Each intern receives a defined technical project, a hiring manager responsible for scope and feedback, a dedicated mentor separate from the hiring manager, midpoint feedback, opportunities to collaborate with Simbe engineers, and the opportunity to present the project and its results at the end of the program. The position is a W-2, non-exempt internship paying $35–$40 per hour; compensation within the range may vary based on relevant skills, experience, academic background, and other objective job-related considerations.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Product Design, or a related technical field.
- Primarily targeted at students in their final year of study; strong juniors will also be considered.
- Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, Onshape, or similar.
- Understanding of core mechanical design principles, including materials, tolerances, fasteners, fits, and basic manufacturing processes.
- Hands-on experience building, prototyping, assembling, or testing physical systems.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings and communicate design intent clearly.
- Strong technical problem-solving skills and willingness to work through ambiguous or unfamiliar problems.
- Ability to work effectively in a hands-on engineering environment.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Nice To Haves
- Personal robotics, mechanical, mechatronics, or product-design projects outside of coursework.
- Previous hardware, mechanical engineering, robotics, manufacturing, or product development internship experience.
- Experience designing components for CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding, 3D printing, or other manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and tolerance analysis.
- Experience with mechanical testing, fixture design, reliability testing, or failure analysis.
- Experience working with motors, sensors, actuators, electromechanical assemblies, or mobile robots.
- Familiarity with basic electronics, wiring, or hardware/software integration.
- Experience with FEA or other mechanical simulation tools.
- Experience working on a robotics team, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, research lab, competition team, or similar hands-on engineering organization.
- Experience using AI-assisted engineering or design tools and the ability to thoughtfully validate generated output.
Responsibilities
- Own and contribute to a scoped project aligned with the Hardware team’s priorities during the internship.
- Support mechanical design and redesign of components and assemblies on the Tally robot platform.
- Create and update CAD models, drawings, and related design documentation.
- Build and evaluate prototypes using appropriate fabrication and prototyping methods.
- Conduct bench testing, collect data, document results, and help identify design improvements.
- Support design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly efforts based on field, reliability, or manufacturing feedback.
- Assist with root-cause analysis of mechanical issues and evaluate potential design changes.
- Collaborate with engineers across Hardware, Robot Software, Manufacturing, Operations, and other technical teams.
- Communicate progress, technical decisions, tradeoffs, challenges, and results throughout the internship.
- Present the project, approach, results, and key learnings at the end of the program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
