Staff Mechanical Engineer — R&D

Apptronik • Austin, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. We operate at the cutting edge of embodied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better. Apptronik is building Apollo — a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to work alongside humans. We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our R&D team and lead rapid development of next-generation robotic systems. This is a prototype-first role: you will turn novel mechanical concepts into working hardware fast, learn from failure, and push the physical limits of what is mechanically possible — not sustain a production line.

Requirements

• 8+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience with a strong focus on R&D and prototype development
• Proven track record of taking novel mechanical concepts from sketch to functional hardware
• Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape, or equivalent)
• Shop-floor capability: comfortable with machining, 3D printing, sheet metal, and manual fabrication
• Experience with structural and dynamic analysis (FEA, hand calculations, or both)
• Comfort with ambiguity — energized by open-ended problems and fast-changing requirements
• Strong mechanical intuition developed through years of building and iterating on physical systems
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of experience in R&D-focused mechanical engineering roles

Nice To Haves

• Experience on advanced robotics, NASA/DARPA programs, or similar high-bar R&D environments

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle prototype development — own mechanical assemblies from concept sketch through physical build, with a bias toward speed and iteration.
• Design and fabricate hardware in-house — operate machine shop equipment, 3D printers, and fabrication tools to rapidly validate design concepts.
• Plan and execute mechanical experiments — define test objectives, instrument prototypes with sensors, and run structured experiments to validate mechanical behavior.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines — work directly with controls, electrical, and systems engineers to integrate mechanical designs into full system prototypes.
• Conceive novel mechanism architectures — evaluate new actuation concepts, transmission designs, and structural approaches beyond iteration on existing hardware.
• Mentor junior engineers — guide team members through prototype development cycles, design reviews, and hands-on fabrication.
• Maintain design documentation — capture design intent clearly enough to enable replication and inform cross-functional teams, without bureaucratic overhead.

What This Job Offers

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