About the 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
- 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