Mechanical Engineer - Automation

Mechanical Engineer - Automation

We are looking to hire a Mechanical Engineer – Automation, reporting functionally to the Mechanical Team Lead and working closely with cross-functional technical leads. This role is essential to delivering robust robotic solutions for real-world deployment by integrating mechanical systems with advanced control and AI technologies.

In this role, you'll lead the design, assembly, and integration of complete robotic systems to automate a wide range of customer workflows. You'll collaborate closely with engineering, software, and commercial teams to translate customer needs into scalable and reliable automation solutions. From feasibility assessment through to on-site system commissioning, you'll own both the design and execution phases.

If you're excited by building intelligent, hands-on robotics solutions and deploying them into real production environments, we'd love to hear from you.

Success Criteria

• Evaluate customer task requirements and define mechanical workflows in collaboration with technical leads
• Design, source, and integrate robotic components including arms, grippers, sensors, and custom fixtures
• Assemble, modify, and commission reliable mechanical systems in-house for testing and deployment
• Develop custom mechanisms that support high precision, repeatable, and task-specific constraints
• Ensure system readiness for operation, validation, and deployment testing
• Troubleshoot and iterate on hardware performance in close collaboration with engineering teams
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery and smooth integration of mechanical components
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure mechanical designs meet performance, interoperability, and scalability needs

Your Experience Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in automation system design, integration, and field deployment
• Proficiency with CAD design, mechanical assembly, and rapid prototyping
• Strong understanding of robotic arms, grippers, sensor systems, and motion control integration
• Awareness of industry-standard robotic components, suppliers, and system compatibility considerations
• Demonstrated ability to deliver full mechanical solutions from concept to operational deployment
• Experience working cross-functionally with software, controls, and product teams

Skills

• Hands-on approach to design, build, and integration
• Skilled in troubleshooting real-world mechanical performance issues
• Ability to plan and execute automation workflows under constraints of throughput, precision, and flexibility
• Comfortable sourcing components, managing external relationships, and navigating technical trade-offs
• Strong communication skills and ability to align stakeholders across teams
• Proficient with 3D CAD tools (Onshape preferred)

Traits

• Curious, resourceful, and energized by solving physical-world problems
• Thrives in fast-paced, iterative environments
• Comfortable taking ownership of technical outcomes and navigating ambiguity
• Collaborative and communicative across disciplines
• Passionate about building systems that blend mechanical reliability with intelligent control

Sanctuary AI is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Sanctuary AI is governed based on skills, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any way by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status. In 2023, Sanctuary AI moved into a state-of-the-art office facility and has been recognized by LinkedIn as a Top Startup company.

Sanctuary offers a market-leading compensation package that includes competitive salaries, equity stakes, and a full suite of benefits for permanent employees, encompassing health coverage, paid time off, cutting-edge work facilities, and worksite flexibility by role. Our commitment to fairness ensures that our total compensation consistently surpasses market standards.

Founded in 2018, Sanctuary builds humanoid robots and a novel control system for them that integrates symbolic logic and reasoning with data-driven robot foundation models. We use our robots to collect vision, audio, touch, and proprioception data from the perspective of the robot while they perform real-world work tasks. We use that data to train multimodal robot foundation models. Because our systems are vertically integrated, we can design, deploy, and refine at scale. Our mission is to create the world's first human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots.