Mechanical Engineer (Hands Team)

Foundation • San Francisco, CA

11h • Onsite

About The Position

This role is focused on solving the most challenging unsolved problem in robotics hardware: achieving human-like dexterous manipulation in real-world environments. The position involves designing and developing mechanical architectures for humanoid robotic hands, including joints, structures, and tendon-driven actuation systems. It also requires the integration of various components like tendons, actuators, routing hardware, transmission mechanisms, and electronics within highly space-constrained designs. The engineer will be responsible for prototyping, testing, and iterating hand designs to meet specific goals for strength, dexterity, durability, and manufacturability, as well as conducting stress, fatigue, and failure analysis. Material selection for both hard and soft components, based on criteria such as strength, friction, flexibility, and wear resistance, is also a key aspect of the role, including evaluating materials for grip and wear resistance.

Requirements

• Shipped hard-to-build, hard-to-make-reliable products at industrial scale
• Self starter, high accountability and high sense of ownership of their work
• Strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles and hands-on experience in robotics, automotive, or a related field
• Experience with complex assemblies and kinematic systems under tight spatial constraints
• Understanding of manufacturing processes (CNC machining, injection molding, stamping, additive manufacturing, etc.)
• Familiarity with control systems and mechatronics
• Hands-on prototyping experience

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with tendon-driven systems and/or highly space-constrained moving mechanisms
• Experience integrating sensors (force, position, tactile) into mechanical systems

Responsibilities

• Tackle the hardest unsolved problem in robotics hardware: human-like dexterous manipulation in the real world
• Design and develop mechanical architectures for humanoid robotic hands, including joints, structures, and tendon-driven actuation systems.
• Design/select and integrate tendons, actuators, routing hardware, transmission mechanisms and electronics in extremely space-constrained environments
• Prototype, test, and iterate hand designs to meet strength, dexterity, durability, and manufacturability goals
• Conduct stress, fatigue, and failure analysis
• Select materials for tendons and structures (hard and soft) based on a variety of criteria: strength, friction, flexibility, wear resistance.
• Evaluate materials for flexibility, grip, and wear resistance, including soft materials where applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level