Senior Mechanical Engineer, Chef Robotics

$130-170k

+ Early-stage equity

Senior and Expert level

San Francisco Bay Area

Autonomous cooking robot developer

Job no longer available

Autonomous cooking robot developer

101-200 employees

B2BArtificial IntelligenceFoodManufacturingRoboticsMachine LearningAutomation

Job no longer available

$130-170k

+ Early-stage equity

Senior and Expert level

San Francisco Bay Area

101-200 employees

B2BArtificial IntelligenceFoodManufacturingRoboticsMachine LearningAutomation

Company mission

To accelerate the advent of intelligent machines in the world to empower humans to do what humans do best.

Job

Company

Role

Who you are

You've shipped hardware to production — and you know what it really takes
BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design or robotics
Expert-level SolidWorks: CAD, CAM, solid modeling, surface modeling, and sheet metal
Strong command of fabrication drawings, 2D drawings, and GD&T
Experience owning the full product cycle — from first concept through production release and redesign
Deep knowledge of FEA, risk analysis, solid mechanics, and heat and stress transfer simulation

What the job involves

Robots are transforming how the world makes food — and you'll be building the hands that do it. As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Chef, you'll design and ship the mechatronic components that power our robotic systems, from clever end effectors to full manipulation systems
You'll own the full development lifecycle: rapid prototyping, lab testing, systems integration, and vendor coordination. If you want your mechanical designs deployed in commercial kitchens across the country, this is your role
Design and build mechatronic components for automated control systems and robotics, with a strong focus on end effectors and manipulation systems
Drive systems integration — taking individual components all the way to a full, functioning robotic system
Work hands-on in our lab: prototype fast, test hard, and iterate until it ships
Partner closely with software, electrical, and industrial design teams to build solutions that are both elegant and production-ready
Source and coordinate with vendors to identify and procure the right materials for mechatronic system designs
Build robust testing processes, conduct reliability studies, and evaluate the feasibility, cost, and performance of new mechatronic equipment

Our take

In recent years, kitchen automation has surged, yet challenges persist in addressing the nuanced complexities of food preparation and assembly.

Chef Robotics tackles this by prioritizing food assembly over cooking, acknowledging the diverse factors that shape culinary outcomes. With ChefOS - its advanced robotics and AI-driven software - Chef Robotics navigates the intricacies of ingredient preparation, cooking methods, and storage conditions, ensuring consistent quality across diverse recipes and ingredients.

Chef's 2025 funding round underscores investor confidence in its innovative approach. With a focus on robotics-as-a-service (RaaS), Chef aims to democratise access to advanced automation, offering scalable solutions for food businesses. As it expands across the US and Canada, it is securing partnerships with Fortune 500 food companies, heralding a future where technology enhances culinary excellence, whilst revolutionising efficiency and creativity in the kitchen.

Freddie

Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle

Insights

Top investors

54% employee growth in 12 months

Glassdoor (4.6)

Company

Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)

Mar 2025

$20.6m

SERIES A

Jan 2024

$10.5m

EARLY VC

Total funding: $45.9m

Company HQ

Showplace Square, San Francisco, CA

Leadership

Rajat Bhageria

(Founder & CEO)

Previously the co-founder and CEO of ThirdEye Technologies. They now write for both Forbes and TechCrunch alongside being a Managing Partner at Prototype Capital.

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