Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotic Hands

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

• 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