Senior Mechanical Engineer

We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer with 5+ years of experience to own core mechanical subsystems end-to-end at a fast-moving robotics startup building autonomous robots for the AI data center buildout. You'll be a generalist who can do everything from FEA and hand calcs to machining your own parts, working at the heart of our product — the End Effector. This is a role for someone who thrives on small teams, loves taking a system from first principles to deployed hardware, and wants true autonomy with real decision-making power and budget access. You'll interface closely with software and electrical teams to build precision electromechanical systems that scale AI infrastructure worldwide.

What will you be doing?

- Own the End Effector subsystem end-to-end: design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, and validation — the core of Gradient's product

- Integrate electromechanical systems including sensing, load cells, and precision linear motion components with tight tolerance requirements

- Drive design decisions with FEA, hand calculations, and trade studies — the cost of mistakes is high, so strong analysis before building is critical

- Interface closely with software and electrical teams to build systems that meet their requirements for sensing and control

- Work hands-on in our in-house machine shop with steel and aluminum-based construction, iterating hardware from months to days