Staff Mechanical Engineer — R&D

JOB SUMMARY

Apptronik is building Apollo — a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to work alongside humans. We are seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our R&D team and lead rapid development of next-generation robotic systems. This is a prototype-first role: you will turn novel mechanical concepts into working hardware fast learn from failure and push the physical limits of what is mechanically possible — not sustain a production line.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead full-cycle prototype development — own mechanical assemblies from concept sketch through physical build with a bias toward speed and iteration.
• Design and fabricate hardware in-house — operate machine shop equipment 3D printers and fabrication tools to rapidly validate design concepts.
• Plan and execute mechanical experiments — define test objectives instrument prototypes with sensors and run structured experiments to validate mechanical behavior.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines — work directly with controls electrical and systems engineers to integrate mechanical designs into full system prototypes.
• Conceive novel mechanism architectures — evaluate new actuation concepts transmission designs and structural approaches beyond iteration on existing hardware.
• Mentor junior engineers — guide team members through prototype development cycles design reviews and hands-on fabrication.
• Maintain design documentation — capture design intent clearly enough to enable replication and inform cross-functional teams without bureaucratic overhead.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• 8+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience with a strong focus on R&D and prototype development
• Proven track record of taking novel mechanical concepts from sketch to functional hardware
• Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks Onshape or equivalent)
• Shop-floor capability: comfortable with machining 3D printing sheet metal and manual fabrication
• Experience with structural and dynamic analysis (FEA hand calculations or both)
• Comfort with ambiguity — energized by open-ended problems and fast-changing requirements
• Strong mechanical intuition developed through years of building and iterating on physical systems

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of experience in R&D-focused mechanical engineering roles
• Preferred: experience on advanced robotics NASA/DARPA programs or similar high-bar R&D environments

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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
• Ability to work in a lab/machine shop environment including standing for extended periods

What We Do

Apptronik is building robots for the real world to improve human quality of life and to help solve the ever-increasing labor shortage problem. Our team has been building some of the most advanced robots on the planet for years dating back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge. We apply our expertise across the full robotics stack to some of the most important and impactful problems our society faces and expect our products and technology to change the world for the better. We value passion creativity and collaboration to help us overcome existing technological barriers in the industry to create truly innovative products.

Why Work With Us

At Apptronik we don't see a future where man competes against machine. Instead we envision a harmonious world where man and machine coexist. Our mission statement "It is not Man vs. Machine but Man + Machine" encapsulates our belief that the synergy between humans and robots will pave the way for a brighter more advanced future.

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