Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Deft AI•San Francisco, CA

26d

About The Position

This role involves owning the end-to-end mechanical design of new robotic humanoid hand/end-effector designs for Deft’s next generation wheeled humanoid robot. The position requires close cooperation with and reporting directly to the CEO.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent degree.
3+ years of experience designing complex electromechanical assemblies, with at least some work on robotic actuators, mechanisms, or precision mechanisms.
Track record of taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production
High proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Onshape).
High proficiency in GD&T engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis.
DFMEA.
Hands-on prototyping experience.
Experience with designing for fabrication methods of low volume manufacturing and high volume manufacturing.
Basic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals.
Familiarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging.
Familiarity with the interdependencies between electronics, mechanics and embedded software.
Excellent communication skills and ability to work in unstructured and high-pressure environments.
Understanding of how to balance development speed versus product quality.
Problem solving skills via first principles thinking.
Growth mindset: curious and hungry to grow.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in heat transfer and experience in transient thermal analysis.
Python/Matlab knowledge, both in data structure management, UI development, symbolic equations, and iterative solvers.

Responsibilities

Design, prototype, and iterate on multi-DOF hand mechanisms including finger linkages, joint assemblies, and palm structures, optimizing for compactness, weight, payload, and cost.
Select and integrate actuators (miniature BLDC motors, servos, or tendon-driven systems) and transmission elements (geartrains, pulleys, cable routing) to achieve reliable grasping and basic manipulation.
Perform structural FEA, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T for all hand components, and release detailed drawings for machining, 3D printing, and injection molding.
Drive rapid design-build-test cycles — you'll be in the lab as much as at your desk, assembling prototypes, running tests, and feeding results back into the next revision.
Collaborate closely with electrical engineering on sensor placement, cable management, and thermal constraints, and with the software team on joint kinematics and control interfaces.
Manage suppliers to execute projects according to the design specifications and tight timelines.