What to Expect
● You 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.
What you'll do
● Design, prototype, and iterate on multi-DOF hand mechanisms including finger linkages, joint assemblies, and palm structures, optimizing for compactness, weight, payload, and cost.
● Select 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.
● Perform structural FEA, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T for all hand components, and release detailed drawings for machining, 3D printing, and injection molding.
● Drive 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.
● Collaborate closely with electrical engineering on sensor placement, cable management, and thermal constraints, and with the software team on joint kinematics and control interfaces.
● Manage suppliers to execute projects according to the design specifications and tight timelines.
Required Qualifications
● Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent degree.
● 3+ years of experience designing complex electromechanical assemblies, with at least some work on robotic actuators, mechanisms, or precision mechanisms.
● Track record of taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production
● High proficiency in designing parts and assemblies using 3D modeling software (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Onshape) .
High proficiency in GD&T engineering drawings and conducting tolerance stack-up analysis.
● DFMEA.
● Hands-on prototyping experience.
● Experience with designing for fabrication methods of low volume manufacturing and high volume manufacturing.
● Basic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals.
● Familiarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging .
● Familiarity with the interdependencies between electronics, mechanics and embedded software .
● Excellent communication skills and ability to work in unstructured and high-pressure environments.
● Understanding of how to balance development speed versus product quality.
● Problem solving skills via first principles thinking.
● Growth mindset: curious and hungry to grow.
Preferred Qualifications
● Proficiency in heat transfer and experience in transient thermal analysis .
● Python/Matlab knowledge, both in data structure management, UI development, symbolic equations, and iterative solvers.
Benefits
● Medical, dental & vision plans ($0 payroll deduction)
● Daily meals stipend
Expected Compensation
● $120,000 - $250,000 annually + equity + benefits
● The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or an equivalent field
- 3+ years of experience designing complex electromechanical assemblies
- Experience with robotic actuators, mechanisms, or precision mechanisms
- Track record of taking a complex electromechanical product from concept to production
- High proficiency with 3D modeling software such as CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, or Onshape
- High proficiency in GD&T engineering drawings and tolerance stack-up analysis
- Experience with DFMEA
- Hands-on prototyping experience
- Experience designing for low-volume and high-volume manufacturing
- Basic understanding of electrical and thermal design fundamentals
- Familiarity with PCBAs and electronics packaging
- Familiarity with interdependencies between electronics, mechanics, and embedded software
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work in unstructured, high-pressure environments
- Understanding of balancing development speed with product quality
- Problem-solving skills using first-principles thinking
- Growth mindset and willingness to learn
- Proficiency in heat transfer and transient thermal analysis
- Python or MATLAB knowledge for data structures, UI development, symbolic equations, and iterative solvers
What We Do
Deft AI, Inc., operating as Deft Robotics, deploys wheeled humanoid robots and robot-foundation-model-based work cells in manufacturing facilities. Its systems integrate with factory workflows to automate difficult tasks that still require people, including final assembly, cable handling, line feeding, and kitting. The company focuses on automotive and electronics manufacturers, combining robotics, AI, and on-site integration to help factories improve throughput and address labor-intensive processes.
