Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

About the role

Pickle Robot is on the hunt for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to help shape the next generation of warehouse automation. Our robots tackle the toughest job on the dock — unloading trucks — and we’re scaling fast. That means building hardware that’s rugged, reliable, and ready for the unpredictable realities of warehouse life. In this role, you’ll own the mechanical performance and long-term reliability of our robotic systems. You’ll diagnose issues, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate closely with software, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure our robots deliver consistent, high-quality performance in the field. Your work will directly influence how our systems evolve as we expand deployments nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Work with an interdisciplinary team to execute product designs from concept to production
• Conduct simulations, testing, and prototyping to validate designs
• Perform structural analysis, material selection, and stress testing for robot components
• Create detailed technical drawings, CAD models, and documentation
• Troubleshoot and resolve mechanical issues during design, production, and deployment
• Brainstorm solutions through sketches/CAD, gathering inputs from cross-department stakeholders while working collaboratively on designs
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and quality control processes
• Support production teams in scaling and improving manufacturing processes for robotics hardware
• Lead continuous improvement efforts in robot performance and reliability

Requirements

• A graduate of a bachelor’s or master's program in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• 7+ years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer, ideally in robotics, automation, or a related field
• Experience in the design process from cradle-to-grave
• Experience designing machined, sheet metal, and welded parts (preferably in OnShape) and submitting documentation through ECOs and deviations in Arena or similar tools
• Comfortable ordering and building prototypes by hand to validate ideas through prototyping and testing
• Experience performing tolerance stackups, reviewing FAIs, PPAPs, and working on DFMEAs
• Experience following designs through the production line, diagnosing and fixing issues in engineering, production builds, and in the field
• Proficient in CAD software, preferably Onshape (experience with other parametric CAD tools like SolidWorks or Creo is acceptable)
• Adept at communicating complex concepts and writing technical documents
• Experience evaluating design, performance, and logistical tradeoffs for hardware systems
• Experienced in designing for a range of manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and 3D printing (injection molding experience is a plus)
• Able to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Willing and able to work from our Charlestown, MA office at least 3 days per week

Pay

The salary range listed here is provided in accordance with Massachusetts law and reflects what we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role. We often consider candidates at different levels of seniority, and final compensation will reflect the level at which a candidate is hired, along with factors like experience and location.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited vacation, along with all federal and state holidays
• 401K contributions of 5% of your salary
• Travel supplies and other items to make your working life more fun, comfortable, and productive

About Pickle Robot

Want to get in on the ground floor of a fast-growing, VC-backed robotics company? Join Pickle Robot! We build systems that companies and their teams love. Pickle robots unload trucks. Every day, millions of trucks and containers are loaded and unloaded, often requiring manual labor—tough, dirty, dangerous, and hard to staff. Pickle automates this process using AI, machine learning, and robotics to deliver reliable products. Our Unload Systems work with teams on loading docks to make the job safer, faster, and more efficient.