Join an early-stage robotics startup, backed by YC, building delightful home robots designed to make everyday life easier, more magical, and more fun. This team is made up of experienced robotics engineers, product thinkers, and builders with backgrounds spanning advanced robotics, autonomous systems, and consumer hardware. They are developing a new category of consumer robotics focused on blending cutting-edge engineering with thoughtful product and character design.

This is an opportunity to help shape the physical form and manufacturing strategy of a first-of-its-kind consumer robotics product. The company is moving quickly toward a major public launch later this year and is looking for a hands-on hardware leader who thrives in fast-moving startup environments.

What you’ll do:

Lead the mechanical execution of a consumer-facing robotics platform from prototype through production readiness
Design, CAD, prototype, and refine external shells and mechanical systems for a consumer robot
Collaborate cross-functionally with industrial design, mechatronics, software, product, and external vendors
Translate industrial design concepts into manufacturable hardware solutions
Work through fit, finish, CMF, tolerances, fastening, DFM, and consumer safety tradeoffs
Design around moving parts, user interaction, repetitive motion, impact risk, and durability
Source parts and prototype vendors across CNC, 3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding workflows
Support supplier relationships and contribute to long-term manufacturing strategy
Own cosmetic execution and build quality for high-visibility demos and launch hardware
Operate as a player-coach: deeply hands-on initially, with the opportunity to grow into a hardware leadership role over time

Experience required:

8+ years of mechanical engineering experience
Experience bringing at least 2 consumer products to market
Strong professional CAD experience, ideally with SolidWorks
Experience designing products with moving parts, motors, actuators, or meaningful user interaction
Practical DFM experience across prototyping and production workflows
Experience leading cross-functional hardware projects across design, engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers
Strong understanding of consumer safety considerations including pinch points, durability, impact risk, and repeated use
Comfortable working in ambiguity and fast iteration cycles
Strong communication and ownership mindset

Nice-to-have experience:

Consumer robotics or adjacent hardware experience
Experience with manufacturing and suppliers in China and/or Mexico
Experience with cosmetic consumer hardware and premium product finishes
Experience with lower-volume hardware manufacturing (10k–50k units/year)
Familiarity with tooling, reliability testing, quality systems, or production ramp

Summary:

Job name: Senior Mechanical Engineer, Consumer Robotics
Work type: Full-time
Hours: Standard startup schedule with high ownership expectations
Location: New York City (On-site, Flatiron area)
Compensation: $160,000 – $210,000 base salary + significant equity
Visa sponsorship: Available
Company size: ~7 employees
Funding + investors: Seed-stage startup with strong runway and plans for a major raise later this year
Reporting to: Founder & CEO

Interview process:

Intro call with Founder & CEO (30 mins)
Intro call with senior team member (30 mins)
Technical interview with hardware advisor (1 hour)
Final onsite interview in NYC office (4 hours)
1. Includes a 45-minute technical project presentation and Q&A

Why join?

Shape the future of consumer robotics at an early stage
Work alongside a highly technical and product-focused founding team
Own major hardware decisions with direct impact on product direction
Help bring a category-defining robotics product to market
Fast-moving environment with significant autonomy and ownership

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $160,000 – $210,000 per year.

Senior Mechanical Engineer @ YC backed Stealth Consumer Robotics Startup | $160k - $220k + Equity