Lead Mechanical Engineer, Humanoid Team
Tokyo
Humanoid – Product Development - Hardware /
Full-time /Part-time /Contract (English) /
Hybrid
Position Summary
As a Lead Mechanical Engineer, you will spearhead the mechanical design and development of a general-purpose humanoid robot—focusing on a dual-arm mobile manipulator for data collection on robotics foundation models. You will utilize your deep understanding of mechanical systems, robotics, and mechatronics to create reliable, cost-effective designs that can be produced at scale. While your core expertise is mechanical engineering, a broad knowledge of robotics system architecture, sensor integration, and motor control is crucial for success in this role.
Key Responsibilities
- Mechanical System Architecture & Design
- Lead the end-to-end mechanical design of humanoid robots (including arms, torso, and mobility base) to meet performance, safety, and cost targets.
- Develop robust and manufacturable designs in SolidWorks, ensuring structural integrity, ergonomic accessibility for service/maintenance, and ease of assembly.
- Optimize designs for affordability (critical for large-scale deployments), without compromising reliability or functionality.
- Mechatronic Integration
- Collaborate with electrical, control, and embedded systems engineers to ensure seamless integration of actuators, sensors, PCBs, and wiring harnesses.
- Integrate various sensor systems (force, current, IMUs, etc.) into the mechanical design to support advanced robotics control and data-collection needs.
- Provide mechanical expertise for motor control systems (especially BLDC motors), ensuring proper thermal management, structural support, and alignment with force/torque requirements.
- Prototyping & Validation
- Prototype and test key mechanical subsystems to validate their design and functionality under real-world conditions.
- Define and execute reliability testing protocols, including stress tests, fatigue analyses, and environmental assessments, ensuring hardware is robust enough for commercial deployment.
- Cost & Reliability Management
- Drive design-to-cost strategies, balancing material selection, manufacturing processes, and component sourcing to meet budgetary constraints.
- Establish and maintain quality standards for production, working closely with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure consistent, high-quality output.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with software, controls, and teleoperation teams to align mechanical design with overall robotics system requirements.
- Coordinate with external research and industry partners to incorporate cutting-edge mechanical design techniques for humanoid robots.
- Collaborate with product management and operations teams to define production roadmaps, scaling from initial prototypes to mass production.
- Continuous Improvement & Thought Leadership
- Monitor performance metrics (e.g., uptime, component wear, mechanical reliability) and implement iterative improvements to boost reliability and reduce cost.
- Stay up to date with industry trends in humanoid robotics, advanced manufacturing methods, materials, and mechatronics to guide strategic design decisions.
Qualifications
- Technical Skills
- Strong background in robotics mechanical design, especially for manipulators or humanoid systems.
- Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks) for complex assemblies, including the use of simulation tools for stress, thermal, and kinematic analyses.
- Familiarity with motor control principles (e.g., BLDC motors, gearboxes, force/torque sensors) and their mechanical integration.
- Experience in mechatronics and hardware architecture (sensor integration, actuator selection, wiring design, etc.).
- Professional Experience
- Proven track record of delivering commercial-grade mechanical designs (not just PoC or lab prototypes) that scale to meet real-world demands.
- Demonstrated ability to optimize for reliability under harsh operational environments and manage cost in mechanical systems.
- Manufacturing knowledge (selection of processes, material properties, DFM/DFA) and supplier engagement experience.
- Soft Skills & Culture Fit
- Ownership mentality: Takes responsibility for outcomes and problem-solves proactively.
- User-Centric Mindset: Demonstrates the ability to understand how diverse stakeholders (including end users, partners, and internal teams) will interact with the product, envision optimal workflows, communicate these concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, and translate them into actionable technical requirements.
- Comfortable in a performance-driven environment (high rewards for results, potential demotion for underperformance).
- Communication skills in English; Japanese proficiency is a plus.
- Portfolio or Video Demonstrations: Whenever possible, include links to a portfolio page or video showcasing your work.
- Relevant Explanations: Describe the scope of each project, your specific contributions, and how your work addresses challenges in humanoid robotics (e.g., mechanical integration, cost optimization, reliability).
[IMPORTANT] Application & Evaluation
To help us evaluate your candidacy effectively, please provide detailed examples of your past mechanical designs that demonstrate your ability to deliver robust, cost-effective humanoid robot solutions. Submitting generic or unrelated work (e.g., simply stating “I have extensive automotive experience—trust me”) will not suffice. Instead, please explicitly detail how your skills, experience, and achievements translate to humanoid robotics at a high professional level.
Applications consisting solely of a standard resume without addressing these points will not proceed in our selection process. We look forward to reviewing concrete evidence of your expertise in designing and leading mechanical systems for humanoid robots.
