Pantograph is training general models that start by watching internet-scale video and end up on robots. We think the path to capable robots runs through general intelligence rather than narrow, robot-specific skills. We're scaling simple methods across video games, real-world video, and our own fleet of affordable, durable robots.
We're looking for a broadly talented hands-on mechanical engineer to design, prototype, and scale our first generation of robots. Our robots are durable tools, built to survive thousands of hours of real-world operation while still feeling intentional and well-crafted. We want someone who brings product sensibility to machines that are meant to be useful.
Responsibilities:
Design parts and assemblies in Onshape that balance load, form factor, durability, cost, and ease of assembly
Build and test prototypes rapidly, with an emphasis on reliability and durability
Sweat the details of serviceability, transportability, safety, and usability
Support procurement by creating engineering drawings, working with suppliers to source parts and ensure final quality
Design test fixtures, qualification fixtures, and end-of-line tests
Work closely with the rest of the hardware team to take designs from prototype through production
You might be a good fit if you:
Have a track record of designing and shipping a physical product at scale (this matters more to us than years of experience or any specific degree)
Have experience designing for bent sheet metal and similar flat-pattern fabrication methods.
Have experience with cable routing and management, and designing around electronics
Have a working knowledge of reliability engineering — MTBF, failure rates, uptime modeling, and basic statistical analysis
Ruthlessly prioritize, love moving fast and making tangible progress
Communicate clearly and document your work on a small, collaborative team
Nice to have:
Broad familiarity with robotic systems — actuators, motors, sensors, and electromechanical integration
Experience designing for high-volume manufacturing
An eye for the details that make physical products satisfying to own and use
We're a small, fast-moving team working together in person in San Francisco. If this work excites you but you don't check every box, we'd still love to hear from you.
Skills Required
- Proficiency designing parts and assemblies in Onshape/CAD
- Track record of designing and shipping a physical product at scale
- Experience designing for bent sheet metal and flat-pattern fabrication methods
- Experience with cable routing and management and designing around electronics
- Working knowledge of reliability engineering (MTBF, failure rates, uptime modeling, basic statistical analysis)
- Rapid prototyping and hands-on prototype testing focused on reliability and durability
- Ability to create engineering drawings and work with suppliers to source parts and ensure quality
- Experience designing test fixtures, qualification fixtures, and end-of-line tests
- Ability to collaborate with hardware team to take designs from prototype through production
- Familiarity with robotic systems, actuators, motors, sensors, and electromechanical integration
- Experience designing for high-volume manufacturing
- Attention to product-level detail and usability that makes physical products satisfying
What We Do
Pantograph is a San Francisco-based public benefit corporation and research lab developing generally intelligent robots. It combines scalable machine-learning methods with internet-scale video and real-world robotic data to train models that learn through exploration, failure, and repetition. The company also designs affordable, durable robots intended for broad deployment, aiming to make general-purpose robotics practical and support beneficial applications across physical environments.
