Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotics
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 24, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 1, 2026.
Analog builds world models and robotics. We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical design of our ground robots and manipulators, from structure and drivetrain through actuation, tolerance and the parts that have to survive a thousand deployments. You will work alongside electrical, firmware, controls and software engineers to take platforms from first sketch to machines that perform reliably in the real world.
Responsibilities
Mechanical Architecture and Design
Own the mechanical architecture of mobile robot platforms and robotic arms, covering chassis, drivetrain, joints, end effectors and enclosures.
Design precision mechanisms and load bearing structures in CAD, balancing stiffness, mass, backlash, serviceability and cost.
Hold the mass, inertia and packaging budgets for each platform and defend them as requirements change.
Translate motion requirements into joint layouts, reach envelopes, payload capability and actuator selection.
Actuation and Drivetrain
Select and integrate motors, gearboxes, harmonic drives, belts, ball screws, bearings and brakes to meet torque, speed and stiffness targets.
Size drivetrains against real duty cycles rather than peak numbers, and validate against measured load data.
Design compliant and force controlled mechanisms for systems that have to touch the world safely.
Solve cable routing, slip ring and harness challenges for articulated joints that flex through millions of cycles.
Analysis and Validation
Run FEA on structures and FMEA on mechanisms, and use the results to change the design rather than to justify it.
Model thermal paths for motors, drives and compute, and design cooling that holds up in high ambient conditions.
Build and instrument test rigs for life, fatigue, shock, vibration, ingress and accuracy, then run them to failure.
Own the root cause loop on mechanical failures found in the lab or the field and close it with a design change.
Prototyping and Manufacturing
Move quickly from sketch to working prototype using in house machining, 3D printing and rapid fabrication.
Design for manufacture across CNC, sheet metal, injection moulding, casting and composites, choosing the right process for the volume.
Produce complete drawing packages with GD&T, tolerance stack ups, fit and finish specifications, BOMs and assembly procedures.
Work with suppliers and contract manufacturers on quoting, first article inspection, qualification and yield.
Collaboration and Leadership
Partner with electrical, firmware, controls and industrial design so the mechanical design serves the whole robot rather than its own subsystem.
Set mechanical design standards, CAD and PDM practice, and documentation quality for the robotics hardware team.
Mentor engineers and raise the technical bar through design reviews and hands on build and test work.
Design for the field: serviceability, spares, tooling, maintenance intervals and technician friendly assemblies.
Qualifications
6 to 10 years designing mechanical systems for robotics, automotive, aerospace, consumer hardware or industrial automation.
Proven ownership of mechanisms taken from concept through prototype, qualification and volume production.
Strong grounding in machine design fundamentals: stress, fatigue, kinematics, bearing and gear selection, and tolerance analysis.
Expert CAD capability in SolidWorks, NX, Creo, Onshape or equivalent, with disciplined use of PDM and revision control.
Practical FEA experience and the judgement to know when a hand calculation is the better answer.
Fluency in GD&T and tolerance stack ups, with a track record of drawings that shops can build from without questions.
Deep hands on ability in the lab and shop: assembly, machining, fixturing, instrumentation and test.
Experience designing for environmental robustness including ingress protection, dust, heat, vibration and repeated transport.
Clear technical writing and comfort in a fast moving environment where hardware changes weekly.
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics or equivalent demonstrated experience.
Nice to Have
Experience with humanoid, legged or manipulator platforms.
Background in high cycle life mechanisms or show critical hardware.
Familiarity with ROS 2 and robot system integration.
Exposure to machinery safety standards such as ISO 13849 or ISO 10218.
Scripting ability in Python or MATLAB for analysis and test automation.
About Analog
Analog builds world models and robotics, technology that blurs the line between the physical and the imagined. Our robotics team designs and deploys machines that operate in the real world, where reliability is not negotiable. You will work alongside engineers, artists and researchers who hold hardware to the same standard as the experience it serves.
This is a full time, on site role based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.