Job description

Join an early-stage robotics startup, backed by YC, building delightful home robots designed to make everyday life easier, more magical, and more fun. This team is made up of experienced robotics engineers, product thinkers, and builders with backgrounds spanning advanced robotics, autonomous systems, and consumer hardware. They are developing a new category of consumer robotics focused on blending cutting-edge engineering with thoughtful product and character design. This is an opportunity to help shape the physical form and manufacturing strategy of a first-of-its-kind consumer robotics product. The company is moving quickly toward a major public launch later this year and is looking for a hands-on hardware leader who thrives in fast-moving startup environments. What you’ll do: • Lead the mechanical execution of a consumer-facing robotics platform from prototype through production readiness • Design, CAD, prototype, and refine external shells and mechanical systems for a consumer robot • Collaborate cross-functionally with industrial design, mechatronics, software, product, and external vendors • Translate industrial design concepts into manufacturable hardware solutions • Work through fit, finish, CMF, tolerances, fastening, DFM, and consumer safety tradeoffs • Design around moving parts, user interaction, repetitive motion, impact risk, and durability • Source parts and prototype vendors across CNC, 3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding workflows • Support supplier relationships and contribute to long-term manufacturing strategy • Own cosmetic execution and build quality for high-visibility demos and launch hardware • Operate as a player-coach: deeply hands-on initially, with the opportunity to grow into a hardware leadership role over time Experience required: • 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience • Experience bringing at least 2 consumer products to market • Strong professional CAD experience, ideally with SolidWorks • Experience designing products with moving parts, motors, actuators, or meaningful user interaction • Practical DFM experience across prototyping and production workflows • Experience leading cross-functional hardware projects across design, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers • Strong understanding of consumer safety considerations including pinch points, durability, impact risk, and repeated use • Comfortable working in ambiguity and fast iteration cycles • Strong communication and ownership mindset Nice-to-have experience: • Consumer robotics or adjacent hardware experience • Experience with manufacturing and suppliers in China and/or Mexico • Experience with cosmetic consumer hardware and premium product finishes • Experience with lower-volume hardware manufacturing (10k–50k units/year) • Familiarity with tooling, reliability testing, quality systems, or production ramp Summary: • Job name: Senior Mechanical Engineer, Consumer Robotics • Work type: Full-time • Hours: Standard startup schedule with high ownership expectations • Location: New York City (On-site, Flatiron area) • Compensation: $160,000 – $210,000 base salary + significant equity • Visa sponsorship: Available • Company size: ~7 employees • Funding + investors: Seed-stage startup with strong runway and plans for a major raise later this year • Reporting to: Founder & CEO Interview process: • Intro call with Founder & CEO (30 mins) • Intro call with senior team member (30 mins) • Technical interview with hardware advisor (1 hour) • Final onsite interview in NYC office (4 hours) • Includes a 45-minute technical project presentation and Q&A Why join? • Shape the future of consumer robotics at an early stage • Work alongside a highly technical and product-focused founding team • Own major hardware decisions with direct impact on product direction • Help bring a category-defining robotics product to market • Fast-moving environment with significant autonomy and ownership

Requirements

Must-haves

Lead the mechanical execution of a consumer-facing robotics platform from prototype through production readiness
Design, CAD, prototype, and refine external shells and mechanical systems for a consumer robot
Collaborate cross-functionally with industrial design, mechatronics, software, product, and external vendors
Translate industrial design concepts into manufacturable hardware solutions
Work through fit, finish, CMF, tolerances, fastening, DFM, and consumer safety tradeoffs
Design around moving parts, user interaction, repetitive motion, impact risk, and durability
Source parts and prototype vendors across CNC, 3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding workflows
Support supplier relationships and contribute to long-term manufacturing strategy
Own cosmetic execution and build quality for high-visibility demos and launch hardware
Operate as a player-coach: deeply hands-on initially, with the opportunity to grow into a hardware leadership role over time
8+ years of mechanical engineering experience
Experience bringing at least 2 consumer products to market
Strong professional CAD experience, ideally with SolidWorks
Experience designing products with moving parts, motors, actuators, or meaningful user interaction
Practical DFM experience across prototyping and production workflows
Experience leading cross-functional hardware projects across design, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers
Strong understanding of consumer safety considerations including pinch points, durability, impact risk, and repeated use
Comfortable working in ambiguity and fast iteration cycles
Strong communication and ownership mindset
Consumer robotics or adjacent hardware experience
Experience with manufacturing and suppliers in China and/or Mexico
Experience with cosmetic consumer hardware and premium product finishes
Experience with lower-volume hardware manufacturing (10k–50k units/year)
Familiarity with tooling, reliability testing, quality systems, or production ramp

Nice-to-haves

None flagged.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Platform: gem
Effort: medium