Staff Mechanical Engineer - End Effector Structure Tech Lead

Apptronik•Austin, TX

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots, with their flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, designed for collaboration in critical industries like manufacturing and logistics, and future applications in healthcare and home. The company operates at the cutting edge of embodied AI, solving complex problems across the full robotics stack. This role involves joining a team focused on bringing Apollo to market at scale, addressing challenges such as safety, commercialization, and mass production. The Staff Mechanical Engineer will lead the structural design and architecture of a next-generation robotic hand for a humanoid platform, focusing on highly dexterous, human-like manipulation in unstructured environments. As the technical lead for hand structures, the engineer will define and drive the mechanical design of complex, multi-DOF systems, balancing strength, compliance, weight, and tactile interaction, working at the intersection of biomechanics, precision engineering, and robotics to create a robust, versatile, and safe hand.

Requirements

B.S in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems
Drive Through Influence: A proven ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders without direct reporting authority. You must be able to build consensus on complex architectural trade-offs.
Surfacing Expertise: Proven ability to work with Class-A surfaces and complex geometries; expert-level proficiency in surfacing tools within SolidWorks, NX, Catia…
Subject Matter Expertise: Proven track record of designing multi-axis robotic arms or high-DOF dynamic mechanisms.
Packaging Mastery: Exceptional skills in "tight-space" integration; experience with ruggedized electronics packaging or automotive/aerospace interiors is a plus.
Education: BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with robotic hands, dexterous manipulation, or anthropomorphic mechanisms
Familiarity with human hand biomechanics or bio-inspired design principles
Experience with tendon-driven systems, cable routing, or underactuated mechanisms
Background in compliant or soft robotic structures
Experience integrating tactile sensing or force feedback into mechanical designs
Knowledge of advanced materials and surface treatments for wear and grip optimization

Responsibilities

Own the robotic hand structural architecture
Define the mechanical architecture of a multi-fingered humanoid hand, including finger topology, joints, palm structure, and load paths, balancing dexterity, strength, and weight.
Lead design of fingers and joints
Develop robust, multi-DOF mechanisms with appropriate joint types, ensuring durability under off-axis loads, impacts, and real-world use.
Co-design with actuation systems
Partner with actuation team on tendon-driven or remote actuation designs, including cable routing, transmission efficiency, and wear reduction.
Engineer for contact-rich, human-like interaction
Design for grasping, pinching, sliding, and tool use, balancing compliance and stiffness for both precision and safe interaction.
Drive structural analysis and durability
Own FEA and validation for stress, fatigue, and impact. Design for high cycle life and address failure modes like wear, loosening, and material fatigue.
Enable compact, integrated designs
Build high-density mechanical systems that integrate actuation, sensing, and wiring within tight space constraints.
Lead prototyping and iteration
Rapidly prototype, test, and refine designs based on hands-on evaluation and system-level feedback.
Own manufacturability and scale-up
Drive DFM/DFA, process selection, tolerancing, and supplier collaboration to ensure production-ready designs.
Collaborate cross-functionally
Work closely with controls, perception, electrical, and software teams to deliver a cohesive manipulation system.
Provide technical leadership
Mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and set best practices for dexterous manipulation systems.