Dynamic Systems Technology Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

JOB SUMMARY

Apptronik is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to serve as the technical lead for Apollo's lower body. This is a high-visibility leadership role responsible for the hip, leg, knee, ankle, and foot assemblies.

You will own the complete lifecycle-architecture, design, integration, and verification-of the lower body stack. This position requires deep expertise in locomotion kinematics, dynamic stability, and high-load structural design. You will lead the development of systems that must deliver human-like mobility, absorb high-energy impacts, and maintain durability across millions of cycles in real-world environments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

• Lower Body Ownership: Define the mechanical architecture for the hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet. Lead trade-off studies between power density, range of motion (ROM), stability, and energy efficiency.
• Locomotion Performance: Architect systems that enable stable walking, running, lifting, and recovery from disturbances (e.g., slips, trips, and falls). Balance dynamic performance with robustness and safety.
• Mass Distribution & Stability: Optimize mass placement and inertia to improve balance, agility, and whole-body coordination.

• High-Performance Joints: Drive the design of multi-DOF joints (hip, knee, ankle) capable of high torque output and high cycle life while maintaining precision and backdrivability where needed.
• Shock & Impact Management: Design structures and mechanisms that absorb and dissipate energy during foot-ground contact and high-impact events (e.g., stepping off ledges, falls).
• Structural Integrity: Lead the design of the lower body load path to support full robot mass and dynamic loads using advanced materials and topology optimization.

• Foot & Contact Design: Develop feet and contact interfaces that provide traction, compliance, and adaptability across varied terrains.
• Actuation Integration: Partner closely with controls and actuation teams to ensure mechanical designs support force control, impedance control, and dynamic motion planning.

• Subsystem Integration: Lead integration of actuators, sensors , and structural elements within tight mechanical envelopes.
• Cable & Harness Routing: Architect robust routing strategies through high-flex joints (hips, knees, ankles), ensuring multi-million cycle reliability and maintainability.
• Environmental Robustness: Ensure designs meet requirements for ingress protection (IP), thermal performance, and durability in real-world operating conditions.

• DVT Ownership: Define and execute the Design Verification Test (DVT) plan for the lower body, including fatigue testing, impact testing, and long-duration lifecycle validation.
• Failure Analysis: Lead root cause investigations for field or lab failures related to wear, fatigue, or performance degradation.
• Technical Mentorship: Conduct deep-dive design reviews, establish best practices for dynamic robotic systems, and mentor engineers across experience levels.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS 

• Drive Through Influence: Proven ability to lead technical initiatives and align cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority. Strong track record of driving system-level decisions.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Demonstrated experience designing multi-axis robotic legs, exoskeletons, or comparable high-DOF dynamic systems.
• Locomotion & Dynamics: Deep understanding of kinematics, dynamics, and control considerations for legged locomotion.
• Structural & Fatigue Design: Expertise in designing for high-cycle fatigue, impact loading, and durability.
• Packaging Mastery: Strong experience integrating actuators, sensors, and structures in compact, high-performance systems.
• CAD Expertise: Expert-level proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA).

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• Education: BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Experience: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a 8+ years of experience in mechanical design of complex robotic systems, with a focus on legged systems or high-load dynamic mechanisms.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer 
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen
• Hearing and speech to communicate