Senior Mechanical Engineer- Neck

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our team and take ownership of the neck of our humanoid robot platform. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mechanical design, actuation selection, and packaging, as well as experience in precision motion systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical architecture of the neck — kinematics, joint arrangement, structural design, and packaging of the full mechanism within a slender, ID-constrained envelope
• Lead actuation selection and packaging for the neck's degrees of freedom — evaluating motor, gearbox, and transmission options against torque, bandwidth, backdrivability, acoustic, and packaging requirements
• Define the head mass and center-of-gravity budget in partnership with the head team, and own the system-level trade between head mass, neck actuator sizing, and dynamic performance
• Develop and validate the head stabilization strategy in collaboration with controls engineers — structural stiffness, backlash and compliance management, vibration isolation, and the dynamic performance needed for stable imagery from head-mounted cameras
• Create and maintain CAD models, drawings, tolerance stacks, and BOMs to support design reviews, prototyping, and manufacturing handoffs
• Plan and execute prototype builds and test campaigns — dynamic performance, acoustics, durability, and stabilization — and lead root cause analysis when issues arise
• Own cable routing through the neck: power and data runs to the head across moving joints, service loops, strain relief, and bend-cycle durability through the full range of motion
• Work closely with the cladding team on the moving-surface problem — gaps, pinch points, flexible or telescoping cladding elements, and attachment schemes that survive continuous articulation

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field (MS preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design of actuated mechanisms — robotics, gimbals, precision motion systems, or similar
• Demonstrated experience selecting and integrating actuators — motors, gearboxes, and transmissions — including sizing against dynamic requirements and packaging into tight envelopes
• Strong command of mechanism design fundamentals: kinematics, stiffness, backlash, preload, and bearing selection for precision motion
• Expert-level proficiency with CAD software (Catia, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape, or similar) for complex part and assembly design
• Deep familiarity with manufacturing processes — machining, casting, injection molding, sheet metal, 3D printing — and design-for-manufacture principles
• Comfort working hands-on with hardware: building prototypes, running tests, and troubleshooting physical systems
• Strong communication skills and the ability to drive requirements to closure across mechanical, electrical, controls, and design disciplines

Qualifications

• Nice to have (but not required):
• Experience designing gimbals, camera stabilization platforms, or pan-tilt mechanisms with image-stability requirements
• Background in acoustic and NVH design for mechanisms — gear noise, motor noise, and structural resonance mitigation
• Experience with humanoid robots, animatronics, or other systems where expressive, lifelike motion matters alongside function
• Familiarity with harmonic drives, cycloidal reducers, or other compact precision transmissions
• Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) applied to precision motion assemblies
• Experience taking a subsystem from concept through DVT/PVT into production

Benefits

Compensation Range: $175K - $250K