Mechanical Design Engineer

 About Gradient Robotics

The datacenter buildout is the largest industrial project in human history. Gradient builds the autonomous robots that make it possible. Partnered with the world's largest AI infrastructure companies and backed by the industry's top investors, Gradient moves fast to build full-stack systems that matter.

Operating at the intersection of robotics and world-scale physical infrastructure, the team combines relentless hardware iteration with deep operational focus. It is a company defined by high-velocity execution, genuine technical ownership, and building the physical machines that scale AI worldwide.

 

The Opportunity

As a Mechanical Design Engineer at Gradient Robotics, you will be the backbone of how the company turns CAD into working hardware. This is intentionally a hands-on, end-to-end ownership role where you will own a subassembly and its components from the first sketch to validated hardware.

You will thrive in a rapid build-test loop: designing a part, running the supporting analysis, fabricating it, testing it directly on the robot, and turning test feedback into a revised part within days. Your subassemblies will go straight onto operational machines, giving you massive impact and room to grow quickly within a high-stakes hardware environment.

 

What You’ll Do

• Own a subassembly and its parts through the full product lifecycle: design, hand calculations, FEA, fabrication, assembly, and validation

• Own all supporting mechanical analysis, including tolerance stack-ups, fastener and material selection, statics, and finite element analysis

• Build, assemble, and test your own parts directly on specialized test fixtures and integrated robotic platforms

• Iterate rapidly by converting failure analysis and test feedback into revised hardware designs within the same week

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering teams to support whatever is highest leverage for overall robot development

• Operate shop machinery and CNC tools to prototype and fabricate custom parts in-house when rapid turnaround is required

 

You Should Have

• 1–4 years of mechanical design experience (exceptional new grads with strong project, student team, or internship experience are welcome) 
• Solid mechanical fundamentals in statics, materials science, tolerance stack-up analysis, fastener joint design, and basic FEA 
• Proven experience building functional physical systems, verified through student teams, shipped hardware, or working prototypes 
• Hands-on machining and fabrication experience, with comfort making your own parts in a fast-paced shop environment 
• Ability to work on-site 5 days a week (and up to 6 days during crunch periods) at the San Francisco headquarters, embedded directly with the team
• Preferred: Experience in hardware, robotics, aerospace, or automotive startups; CAM/toolpath creation experience (Fusion 360); and comfort leveraging AI tools to multiply engineering output

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary and early-stage equity packages. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; flexible time off; daily meals and snacks at the San Francisco shop; access to advanced rapid-prototyping machinery; and an environment built for accelerated career growth.