Mechanical Engineering Lead

About the role

Join a cross-functional team of software, electrical, robotics, and operations engineers to design, develop, and validate the articulating end of arm tooling (EOAT) that powers our robotic microfactory. This is hands-on, mechanism-forward work — multi-DOF grippers, compliant linkages, actuated fingers, force-controlled contact systems, and tooling that must adapt to real variability in device geometry and assembly state.

Responsibilities

• Design & Engineering Lead the design and development of end of arm tooling — grippers, fixtures, and compliance mechanisms — for automated electronics disassembly.
• Define tooling requirements in collaboration with robotics, automation, and operations teams.
• Perform mechanical analysis (stress, tolerance, kinematic) to validate designs before fabrication.
• Oversee prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement of EOAT systems.
• Ensure designs meet reliability, repeatability, and cycle-time targets in production environments.
• Apply DFM principles to minimize cost and lead time.
• Technical Leadership Serve as Technical Lead Manager for a small team of mechanical engineers — assign tasks, set milestones, and track deliverables across the EOAT workstream.
• Conduct design reviews, provide technical feedback, and maintain quality standards across the team's output.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, supporting their technical growth and career development.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for EOAT within the project team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with robotics, software, and manufacturing teams to integrate EOAT into the broader automated disassembly system.
• Communicate design status, risks, and dependencies to project leads and stakeholders.
• Contribute to project planning with realistic engineering estimates and technical input.
• Help resolve integration issues and unblock teams during implementation phases.
• Process & Documentation Maintain design documentation, BOMs, drawings, and revision history to engineering standards.
• Establish best practices for EOAT design, testing protocols, and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Support lessons-learned processes to continuously improve tooling reliability and development speed.

Requirements

• A hands-on mechanical engineer with deep expertise in kinematic design, mechanism synthesis, and actuation systems — and the technical leadership to drive execution in a fast-paced, hardware-intensive environment.
• You take full ownership of your workstream and know how to bring a team along with you.
• Specifically, you have:
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master's a plus).
• 5–8 years of experience in mechanical design, with at least 2 years in a technical lead or team lead capacity.
• Hands-on experience designing articulating mechanisms — grippers, compliant linkages, actuated systems, or similar.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion, or equivalent) and engineering analysis methods.
• Experience with DFM and mechanical testing and validation processes.
• Familiarity with automation systems, robotics integration, or microfactory environments is strongly preferred.
• Strong communication skills and experience working in cross-functional product or project teams.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience designing articulating mechanisms — grippers, compliant linkages, actuated systems, or similar.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion, or equivalent) and engineering analysis methods.
• Experience with DFM and mechanical testing and validation processes.
• Familiarity with automation systems, robotics integration, or microfactory environments is strongly preferred.

Skills

• Hands-on experience designing articulating mechanisms — grippers, compliant linkages, actuated systems, or similar.
• Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion, or equivalent) and engineering analysis methods.
• Experience with DFM and mechanical testing and validation processes.
• Familiarity with automation systems, robotics integration, or microfactory environments is strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation
• 401k
• Equity
• Healthcare Benefits

Pay

Competitive compensation package.

Schedule

Full-time, on-site position in Sterling, VA.