Robotics Engineer, Hands

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States

Salary: $100,000–$125,000 USD annually, plus performance-based incentives and equity participation.

Company

A rapidly growing defense technology company developing autonomous defense platforms and a new consumer robotics program.

What you will do

• Make early architecture and component decisions with safety, manufacturability, reliability, and serviceability in mind.
• Design mechanisms that determine robotic hand dexterity, strength, and range of motion.
• Develop and tune hand controls for secure grasping, grip adjustment, and handling fragile or unfamiliar objects.
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, and software engineers to integrate complete hand systems.
• Conduct reliability testing, failure analysis, root-cause investigations, experiments, and design iterations.

Requirements

• Experience designing robotic hand mechanisms and actuator control systems.
• Hands-on experience turning concepts into hardware and bridging theory with practical implementation.
• Ability to create workable designs for ambiguous, open-ended problems.
• Ability to lead reviews, influence cross-functional teams, and communicate risks and solutions clearly.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, computer science, robotics, physics, or a related discipline.
• Must be authorized to access technology controlled under U.S. export regulations, including by being a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or by obtaining the required authorization.

Nice to have

• Advanced knowledge of robotic hand mechanisms, kinematics, dynamics, motion control, and force control.
• Experience with compact motor-transmission assemblies, tendon-driven or linkage-based fingers, force or tactile sensing, and grasp stability.
• Experience with robotic actuators, gearboxes, motors, bearings, sensors, prototyping, and electromechanical troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of reliability testing, failure analysis, root-cause investigations, structural FEA, materials, manufacturing processes, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Onshape, SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or CATIA, plus 3+ years taking robotic or electromechanical hardware from concept through validation and deployment.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup agility and ownership within a workforce of approximately 350 employees.
• Healthcare, dental, vision, retirement savings, and paid time off.
• Performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Extended hours and weekends may be required as needed.