Mechanical Engineering Manager, Atlas Actuation Technology

Boston Dynamics • Waltham, MA

1d • $155,000 - $220,000

About The Position

We’re looking for a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team to design, development, and support high-performance Actuator Products for next-generation humanoid robotic platforms. This role sits at the intersection of product design, cutting edge motor and drivetrain technology, and manufacturing, shaping how complex electromechanical systems are conceived, integrated, brought to life at scale, and maintained in the field. The actuators enable our robots to move and accomplish their complex work - this is a critical role on the Atlas team. As an Engineering Manager at Boston Dynamics, you are not just a people manager. You will be responsible for guiding a team of Architects and Mechanical Engineers, mentoring and coaching people as well as providing technical oversight and backstopping. You’ll help define long-term hardware design and product strategies, lead technically complex programs, and work closely with cross-functional partners to deliver robust, scalable, and innovative robotic actuator systems.

Requirements

• Proven experience leveraging a team to deliver impact.
• Confident and dynamic communicator, able to build consensus and influence decision making at various levels.
• Extremely polished verbal and written communication skills.
• Deep experience architecting complex electromechanical products, with a strong emphasis on motors, speed reducers, electronics packaging and thermal management.
• Expert-level CAD proficiency (CATIA preferred or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of actuator design challenges, including thermal management, input and output load management, sensor integration, gears and bearings.
• Proven ability to lead architectural trade studies and balance innovation, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Experience working across disciplines and influencing technical direction without direct authority.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous problem spaces and setting technical direction for others.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in electromechanical hardware product development, including meaningful ownership of complex product launches.
• 3+ years of experience managing a technical team.
• Experience working with vendors and suppliers on compute components or sensing technologies.
• 5%-10% international travel required to support the global supplier and partner network for actuator products.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 5-10 mechanical engineers to design, develop and continuously improve high-performance robotic actuator products.
• Participate in developing overall robot product strategy and actuator product roadmaps.
• Create and manage plans to complete the necessary work to accomplish the team’s objectives.
• Drive and backstop system-level design decisions across motors, sensors, mechanical packaging, thermal management, data and power transfer, and manufacturability.
• Evaluate, derisk and introduce new technologies to improve performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Lead technical trade studies and guide key architectural decisions in collaboration with systems, software, controls, manufacturing, and sourcing teams.
• Own technical risk mitigation through design reviews, FMEAs, and validation planning.
• Mentor and influence engineers through design reviews, standards development, and architectural best practices.
• Collaborate with external vendors and partners on to develop, scale and deliver actuator products.

What This Job Offers

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