Co-op: Mechanical Engineer

About the role

Mechanical Engineer co-op student will be a major contributor to the development of new and existing brake and clutch designs, using existing tools to design custom robotics components to meet customer specifications. They will play pivotal roles in the manufacturing and testing of ESTAT Actuation products, participate in customer meetings, design custom products, translate designs into production files, place orders with suppliers, and perform incoming and outgoing quality control. The student will also improve existing design tools to quickly deliver custom rotary and linear designs, may develop demos and applications, and have the opportunity to invent or contribute to new electroadhesive products. They will support customers, grow the product line, and contribute to the startup’s success, with past co‑ops becoming patent authors and the possibility to do so if they contribute novel, industrially relevant ideas.

ESTAT is a university startup spun out of Carnegie Mellon that has translated basic research on electroadhesives into robotic components such as clutches, brakes, locks and latches that are 10× lighter, 10× more compact and 1000× more efficient than conventional options. The company sells catalog and custom electroadhesive clutches and brakes, and provides R&D services to large companies and the government.

Each week begins with a Monday meeting to discuss priorities and tasks; team members load their schedules for the week. Wednesdays are typically one‑on‑one meetings with managers to review progress, metrics, roadblocks, and upcoming project schedules. Fridays feature a quick team touch‑base to confirm critical items for the week.

Responsibilities

• Design custom robotics components using existing tools to meet customer specifications
• Participate in customer meetings and translate designs into production files
• Place orders with suppliers and perform incoming and outgoing quality control
• Contribute to manufacturing and testing of ESTAT Actuation products
• Improve existing design tools for rapid delivery of custom rotary and linear designs
• Develop side‑project demos and applications that attract attention
• Opportunity to invent or contribute to new electroadhesive products
• Support customers, grow the product line, and contribute to company success
• Assist with patent drafting, machine parts in the machine shop, perform statistical analysis, program robotic test stands, conduct test‑to‑failure, visit supplier factories, draft CAD models, perform FEA, represent the company at conferences, or visit an Air Force Base for acceleration sled testing

Requirements

• Preference for Juniors and Seniors; lower classmen considered with exceptional hands‑on experience
• Strong preference for students able to complete two 6‑month rotations to make lasting contributions

Qualifications

• Self‑motivated, loves to make things happen, passionate about details