About this role

ABOUT THE ROLE A lean, venture-backed robotics startup operating in the defense, emergency response, and industrial sectors is looking for a Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical systems of their next-generation autonomous ground robots. You'll be joining a small, high-caliber team — with roots at organizations like NASA, Lockheed Martin, and Southwest Research Institute — building platforms engineered to operate in the most demanding environments on earth: extreme heat, corrosive conditions, hazardous atmospheres, and complex terrain.

This is a hands-on, ownership-heavy role that spans concept through production and field deployment. You'll design, build, test, and iterate on electro-mechanical assemblies that need to perform with precision and reliability at scale. Visa sponsorship is available for this position. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own complex mechanical systems through all stages of product maturity, from concept to field deployment. - Design innovative solutions given system requirements, producing 3D CAD models and proof-of-concepts.

- Drive rapid concept validation and critical learnings through fast iteration; build test platforms when it's quicker than waiting. - Conduct analyses (strength, reliability, assembly) to ensure designs meet requirements. - Lead and participate in design reviews and issue triages with cross-disciplinary engineers. - Generate assembly layouts and detailed engineering drawings using GD&T concepts. - Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure part producibility and quality.

- Develop and execute testing plans; perform root cause analysis on failures in development and deployment. - Design and build jigs, test fixtures, and tooling as required. - Assemble systems to test performance, integration, and manufacturing processes. - Document design justifications, analyses, test results, and recommendations for traceability. - Communicate with end users to clarify requirements and guide feature direction.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Required: - Strong engineering fundamentals backed by a rigorous academic background or experience at engineering-intensive organizations. - Proven track record of leading, building, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems — with clear ownership and decisive problem-solving. - Prior experience building robots — this is a firm requirement. - Experience designing mechanical systems for high-temperature, corrosive, or water-heavy environments.

- Proficiency with SolidWorks and ANSYS (or equivalent FEA tooling). - Experience generating and approving manufacturing drawings with GD&T annotations to industry standards. - Experience designing and building jigs, test fixtures, and tooling for mechanical systems. - Ability to perform root cause analysis on mechanical failures and drive corrective actions. - Experience collaborating with suppliers and manufacturers on part producibility and quality.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable engaging directly with users and customers to clarify requirements. - Willingness to work on-site in Austin, Texas. - 2–8 years of relevant mechanical engineering experience. Nice to Have: - Experience with defense, aerospace, or industrial automation hardware. - Background in prototyping and hardware testing in lab or manufacturing environments. - Familiarity with electro-mechanical integration in autonomous or remotely operated systems.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: $90,000 – $150,000 USD annually, depending on experience. - Equity participation in a well-funded early-stage company. - Visa sponsorship available. LOCATION This is a fully on-site role based in Austin, Texas. Candidates must be willing to work on-site full time.

Source listing: ashby_clera