Staff Mechanical Engineer, Apptronik
Robotic Hand Design Tech Lead
Humanoid robot developer
Open for applications
Humanoid robot developer
201-500 employees
Open for applications
201-500 employees
Company mission
To leverage robotics to improve universal quality of life.
Role
Who you are
- Drive Through Influence: A proven ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders without direct reporting authority. You must be able to build consensus on complex architectural trade-offs
- Surfacing Expertise: Proven ability to work with Class-A surfaces and complex geometries; expert-level proficiency in surfacing tools within SolidWorks, NX, Catia…
- Subject Matter Expertise: Proven track record of designing multi-axis robotic arms or high-DOF dynamic mechanisms
- Packaging Mastery: Exceptional skills in "tight-space" integration; experience with ruggedized electronics packaging or automotive/aerospace interiors is a plus
- Education: BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
- Direct experience with robotic hands, dexterous manipulation, or anthropomorphic mechanisms is preferred
- Familiarity with human hand biomechanics or bio-inspired design principle sis preferred
- Experience with tendon-driven systems, cable routing, or underactuated mechanisms is preferred
- Background in compliant or soft robotic structures is preferred
- Experience integrating tactile sensing or force feedback into mechanical designs is preferred
- Knowledge of advanced materials and surface treatments for wear and grip optimization is preferred
- Education: B.S in Mechanical Engineering
- Experience: 8 years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
- Hearing and speech to communicate
What the job involves
- We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer – Robotic Hand Design Tech Lead to lead the structural design and architecture of a next-generation robotic hand for a humanoid platform
- This role goes beyond traditional end effectors—focusing on highly dexterous, human-like manipulation in unstructured environments
- As the technical lead for hand structures, you will define and drive the mechanical design of complex, multi-DOF systems that must balance strength, compliance, weight, and tactile interaction
- You will work at the intersection of biomechanics, precision engineering, and robotics to create a hand capable of robust, versatile, and safe interaction with the world
- Own the robotic hand structural architecture:
- Define the mechanical architecture of a multi-fingered humanoid hand, including finger topology, joints, palm structure, and load paths, balancing dexterity, strength, and weight
- Lead design of fingers and joints:
- Develop robust, multi-DOF mechanisms with appropriate joint types, ensuring durability under off-axis loads, impacts, and real-world use
- Co-design with actuation systems:
- Partner with actuation team on tendon-driven or remote actuation designs, including cable routing, transmission efficiency, and wear reduction
- Engineer for contact-rich, human-like interaction:
- Design for grasping, pinching, sliding, and tool use, balancing compliance and stiffness for both precision and safe interaction
- Drive structural analysis and durability:
- Own FEA and validation for stress, fatigue, and impact. Design for high cycle life and address failure modes like wear, loosening, and material fatigue
- Enable compact, integrated designs:
- Build high-density mechanical systems that integrate actuation, sensing, and wiring within tight space constraints
- Lead prototyping and iteration:
- Rapidly prototype, test, and refine designs based on hands-on evaluation and system-level feedback
- Own manufacturability and scale-up:
- Drive DFM/DFA, process selection, tolerancing, and supplier collaboration to ensure production-ready designs
- Collaborate cross-functionally:
- Work closely with controls, perception, electrical, and software teams to deliver a cohesive manipulation system
- Provide technical leadership:
- Mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and set best practices for dexterous manipulation systems
Our take
Apptronik specialises in the development of advanced robotic systems designed to enhance and automate various industrial processes. The company's flagship product, The Apollo humanoid robot, is engineered to perform low-skill, physically demanding tasks that are repetitive and crucial for manufacturing efficiency.
The company's expertise extends beyond robotics into the broader realm of artificial intelligence and automation, contributing to its rapid growth and increasing prominence in the tech industry. Apptronik's products are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing workflows, offering solutions that address labour shortages and improve operational efficiency.
The company's partnership with Mercedes-Benz marks a significant milestone for both companies. This agreement to pilot Apollo robots in Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facilities represents Apptronik's first publicly announced commercial deployment. This is an exciting opportunity for the company, and as the industry continues to evolve, Apptronik is poised to leverage its technology to meet increasing demands in the robotics and automation sectors.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
35% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 4 rounds)
Feb 2026
$520m
SERIES A
Mar 2025
$415m
SERIES A
Total funding: $949.9m
Company HQ
North Burnet, Austin, TX
Leadership
Jeff Cardenas
(Co-Founder & CEO)Received a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas. Founded multiple startups and non-profits. Previously worked at IC2 Institute at UT Austin and in Technology at Deloitte Consulting.
Dr. Nick Paine
(Co-Founder & CTO)B.S., M.S. and Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin. Previously a member of the NASA-JSC DARPA Robotics Challenge team which developed high-performance hardware and software for robotic control.
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