Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotic Hands

About this role

Your mission & challenges

• Lead the mechanical design and development of robotic hands and their subsystems, from prototype to series production
• Take technical ownership of mechanical designs, ensuring design maturity and readiness for production release
• Develop and maintain CAD models, technical drawings, product structures, bills of materials, and assembly documentation
• Own Product Data Management (PDM) processes, including part numbering, CAD structures, engineering changes, and release workflows
• Conduct mechanical design reviews, tolerance stack-up analyses, and GD&T assessments
• Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA), including the transition from CNC-machined components to injection-molded parts
• Support the development and optimization of compact precision mechanisms, actuators, and robotic hand assemblies
• Coordinate manufacturing transfer and production ramp-up activities with suppliers and production teams in Germany and China
• Lead mechanical failure analysis, root cause investigations, and design improvements to enhance product reliability and durability
• Define mechanical acceptance criteria for incoming inspections, end-of-line testing, and product validation
• Support prototype builds, endurance testing, supplier qualification, and manufacturing process optimization
• Drive design for serviceability, maintenance, and spare parts definition
• Collaborate across mechanical, electronics, manufacturing, quality, and sourcing teams to resolve technical challenges
• Mentor junior engineers and students, contributing to engineering best practices and continuous improvement

What we can look forward to

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a comparable field

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8+ years of experience in mechanical or electromechanical product development, including taking at least one product into series production

• Strong expertise in designing compact precision mechanisms, including gears, linkages, bearings, springs, and small electric drives
• Proven experience developing production-ready mechanical systems and managing design releases
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, particularly CNC machining, injection molding, tooling, and precision assembly
• Strong knowledge of tolerance analysis, GD&T, and engineering drawing standards (ISO GPS or ASME Y14.5)
• Proficiency in Creo or SolidWorks, with hands-on experience managing product structures and release workflows in Windchill, SolidWorks PDM, or similar systems
• Experience conducting production release reviews and coordinating with manufacturing suppliers
• Familiarity with structured root cause analysis and quality methodologies such as 8D and FMEA
• Experience transferring mechanical designs into production with external or international manufacturing partners
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary and international teams
• Fluent English; German language skills are a strong advantage
• Valid Class B driving licence and willingness to travel between company locations and international production sites

Nice to Have

• Experience developing robotic hands, grippers, prosthetics, exoskeletons, or other dexterous robotic mechanisms
• Knowledge of tendon-driven mechanisms, series elastic actuators, capstan drives, and worm gear systems
• Experience with ball joints, orbital forming, or other specialized manufacturing techniques for compact mechanisms
• Experience creating assembly instructions and supporting manual production lines
• Familiarity with Chinese contract manufacturers and international supplier management
• Experience integrating sensors, textiles, or flexible components into mechanical structures
• Previous technical leadership or mentoring experience within robotics or precision electromechanical product development