{"id":742050,"url":"https://alion.io/job/deftai-senior-mechanical-design-engineer","title":"Senior Mechanical Design Engineer","company":{"id":673681,"name":"Deft AI","domain":"deftai.co","url":"https://alion.io/company/deftai","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":9,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Francisco, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":120000,"max":250000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":250000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"CATIA","optional":false},{"name":"FMEA","optional":false},{"name":"GD&T","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-15T23:06:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-04-15","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T23:16:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":199,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":198},"description":"What to Expect\nYou will own the end-to-end mechanical design of new robotic humanoid hand/end-effector designs for Deft’s next generation wheeled humanoid robot, cooperating with and reporting directly to the CEO.\nWhat you'll do\nDesign, prototype, and iterate on multi-DOF hand mechanisms including finger linkages, joint assemblies, and palm structures, optimizing for compactness, weight, payload, and cost.\nSelect and integrate actuators (miniature BLDC motors, servos, or tendon-driven systems) and transmission elements (geartrains, pulleys, cable routing) to achieve reliable grasping and basic manipulation.\nPerform structural FEA, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T for all hand components, and release detailed drawings for machining, 3D printing, and injection molding.\nDrive rapid design-build-test cycles - you'll be in the lab as much as at your desk, assembling prototypes, running tests, and feeding results back into the next revision.\nCollaborate closely with electrical engineering on sensor placement, cable management, and thermal constraints, and with the software team on joint kinematics and control interfaces.\nManage suppliers to execute projects according to the design specifications and tight timelines.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent degree.\n3+ years of experience designing complex electromechanical assemblies, with at least some work on robotic actuators, mechanisms, or precision mechanisms.\nTrack record of taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production\nHigh proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Onshape) .\nHigh proficiency in GD&T engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis.\nDFMEA.\nHands-on prototyping experience.\nExperience with designing for fabrication methods of low volume manufacturing and high volume manufacturing.\nBasic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals.\nFamiliarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging .\nFamiliarity with the interdependencies between electronics, mechanics and embedded software .\nExcellent communication skills and ability to work in unstructured and high-pressure environments.\nUnderstanding of how to balance development speed versus product quality.\nProblem solving skills via first principles thinking.\nGrowth mindset: curious and hungry to grow.\nPreferred Qualifications\nProficiency in heat transfer and experience in transient thermal analysis .\nPython/Matlab knowledge, both in data structure management, UI development, symbolic equations, and iterative solvers.\nBenefits\nMedical, dental & vision plans ($0 payroll deduction)\nDaily meals stipend\nExpected Compensation\n$120,000 - $250,000 annually + equity + benefits\nThe pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 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