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Actuator Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OpenAI

Actuator Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$342K - $445K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Senior Actuator Design and Integration Engineer to lead the development of custom electromechanical actuators for advanced robotic systems. You will own actuator ...

OpenAI

Actuator Gear Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$266K - $380K/yr

About the Role We are seeking an Actuator Gear Design Engineer to lead the development of custom gears and gear stages for advanced robotic systems. You will own actuator development from early ...

Stoke Space

Senior Valves & Actuators Engineer

Kent, WA

$151K - $252K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Sr. Valves and Actuators Engineer, you will be responsible for defining, designing ... Be involved in valve and actuator builds on the production floor * Create procedures and execute ...

Figure

Electrical Engineer, Actuator Systems

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA We are looking for an Electrical Engineer to join our Actuator ...

Stoke Space

Senior Valves & Actuators Engineer

Kent, WA · On-site

$151K - $252K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Sr. Valves and Actuators Engineer, you will be responsible for defining, designing ... Be involved in valve and actuator builds on the production floor * Create procedures and execute ...

Stoke Space

Senior Valves & Actuators Engineer

Kent, WA · On-site

$151K - $252K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Sr. Valves and Actuators Engineer, you will be responsible for defining, designing ... Be involved in valve and actuator builds on the production floor * Create procedures and execute ...

Figure

Electrical Engineer, Actuator Systems

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA We are looking for an Electrical Engineer to join our Actuator ...

General Atomics

Engineer II

Poway, CA · On-site

$68K - $116K/yr

The GA-ASI's actuation systems include rotary and linear electro-mechanical actuators comprising ... This Engineer will participate in Actuation system lifecycle development activities including ...

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Actuator Engineer information

What does an actuator engineer do?

An Actuator Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing actuators, which are devices that convert energy into motion in mechanical systems. They work on selecting appropriate actuator types (such as electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic), ensuring the devices meet technical requirements, and integrating them into larger systems. Actuator Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to optimize performance, reliability, and efficiency of the actuators in applications like robotics, automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an actuator engineer?

To thrive as an Actuator Engineer, you generally need a solid background in mechanical or electrical engineering, with expertise in electromechanical systems and motion control. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools (such as MATLAB/Simulink), and industry certifications in automation or mechatronics is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help an actuator engineer excel in both design and troubleshooting contexts. These competencies ensure the reliable development and integration of actuators, which are critical for the performance and safety of automated systems.

What are the typical challenges actuator engineers face when integrating actuators into complex systems?

Actuator Engineers often encounter challenges related to ensuring compatibility between actuators and the mechanical, electrical, or control systems they interact with. Common issues include managing space constraints, meeting strict performance requirements, mitigating unwanted vibrations, and ensuring reliable communication with control units. Successful Actuator Engineers collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including mechanical designers, software developers, and system integrators, to address these challenges and optimize actuator performance within the overall system.

What is the difference between Actuator Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectActuator EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Electrical, or Mechatronics Engineering; often certifications in control systemsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; may include certifications in CAD or project management
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing actuators, working in R&D labs or manufacturing facilitiesDesigning mechanical systems, working in design offices, manufacturing plants, or field sites
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, robotics, industrial automationAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, product design

While both roles involve engineering principles, Actuator Engineers focus specifically on designing and developing actuators used in automation and robotics, whereas Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope, working on various mechanical systems and components across industries.

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Actuator Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Actuator Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Senior Actuator Engineer (Hands Team)

Socket.dev

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$120 - $190/hr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

At Rhoda AI, we’re building the next generation of generalist intelligent robots. We own the full robotics stack from high-performance hardware and robot systems to the infrastructure and state-of-the-art foundation world models that control our robots. Our robots are designed to be generalists capable of operating in complex, real-world environments and handling long-tail edge cases, made possible by our cutting edge research and end-to-end system design. We've raised over $450M and are investing aggressively in model research, infrastructure, hardware development, and manufacturing scale-up to make generalist robotics a reality.

You will design the actuation at the heart of the hand: compact, efficient motor-and-gearbox units that must deliver human-hand dexterity in a human-hand package. Your actuators define what the entire system can do.

What You'll Do
  • Design compact motor-gearbox actuator units for the hand's fingers and wrist, from concept through production
  • Architect miniaturized geartrains — especially planetary — that hit torque, backlash, and packaging targets at finger scale
  • Size and select motors against torque, speed, power-draw, thermal, and efficiency requirementsBuild and run bench and dyno tests to characterize actuator performance, efficiency, and durability
  • Partner with the structures engineer on packaging and thermal paths, and with the electrical engineer on drive and sensing integration
What You Bring
  • Track record of designing and shipping gearboxes, especially planetary gearboxes
  • Experience miniaturizing geartrains for tightly packaged, weight- and volume-constrained applications
  • Strong command of motor sizing and selection, including power draw, torque density, and efficiency analysis
Nice to Have
  • Gear design experience — tooth profiles, materials, and manufacturing methods
  • Experience with tendon- or linkage-driven finger actuation
  • Familiarity with backdrivability and transparency requirements for teleoperation
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