Senior Mechanical Engineer

Gravis Robotics turns heavy construction machines into intelligent, autonomous robots. Spun out of ETH Zurich, our combination of learning-based automation and augmented remote control lets one operator safely conduct a fleet of earthmoving machines with super-human productivity. We are deploying with global market leaders in construction and mining, in a trillion-dollar industry that has barely begun to automate. What we build The Gravis RACK is a machine-agnostic retrofit kit that adds autonomy to excavators and wheel loaders from 10 to 100+ tonnes: LiDAR and camera sensing, GNSS RTK, networking hardware and rugged edge compute that works offline. Paired with the Slate tablet and our Copilot software, it lets an operator run a machine manually, with AI assistance, or fully autonomously. Increasingly, we also build custom hardware to adapt our machines for highly specialized, robust applications beyond traditional excavation. About the role You'll own mechanical design and validation across both sides of that scope: the sensing and compute hardware that retrofits onto a machine, and the heavy structural tooling that machine works with. You'll also define how we do this work. We're moving from early production into scale-up with a next-generation platform ahead, and our engineering practices are still yours to shape. What you'll do Own the mechanical design of core hardware systems — compute enclosures, sensor assemblies, cable management, machine integration components — from concept through production release Design purpose-built tooling: welded and machined assemblies in high-strength plate steel, and mounting interfaces carrying tens of kN Drive design decisions with structural analysis — build the load cases including the abusive ones, run the FEA, and turn results into specific design changes Define our design verification and validation practice: test plans, acceptance criteria, design reviews, and sign-off gates Release production-ready CAD and drawing packages that hand off cleanly to our production team, contract manufacturers, and fabrication and machining suppliers Commission hardware on real machines on real sites, and fold what you learn back into the design Bring structured design methodology into next-generation development from day one, and raise the bar for the team by example What we're looking for University degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field You've owned complex electro-mechanical or heavy structural designs end-to-end from concept to validation to production and field support Strong 3D CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred) with disciplined documentation: assemblies, detailed drawings, BOMs, revision control Working fluency with FEA, and the judgement to define realistic load cases and know how much confidence a result earns Experience designing welded and machined steel structures: load paths, plate and grade selection, weld sizing and specification, distortion and machining sequence Design for harsh outdoor environments: structural and thermal loads, shock and vibration, IP-rated enclosures, material and coating selection, DFM, GD&T A track record of improving engineering process: introducing design reviews and formalizing test procedures Comfortable prototyping, testing, and iterating hands-on alongside a small team A creative problem solver who can leverage experience and engineering firepower towards designs and solutions Excellent command of English, written and spoken Beneficial Experience Hydraulically actuated mobile equipment (cylinders, valves, and auxiliary circuits at working pressures in the hundreds of bar) and electro-hydraulic systems closed around sensor feedback Welding and weld fabrication in practice: process selection, design for fatigue and distortion, high-strength steels, hands-on work with fabricators Heavy-duty rugged equipment: construction, mining, agricultural, or off-highway machinery built to survive abuse in the field Integrating sensors onto moving, high-shock structures, field-of-view trade-offs, slip rings, & harness routing FEA/CFD for thermal analysis, ISO 9001 or similar QMS experience, robotics or autonomous systems background Don't meet every requirement? If you're enthusiastic about this role but your experience doesn't match every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply. You might be the right person for this or another role on our team. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, multidisciplinary team — and to be part of a young startup that is reshaping heavy construction. We understand that work-life balance and flexibility are important considerations for many professionals. If you are a strong match, we encourage you to apply and discuss your preferred working arrangement during the interview process. Gravis is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, and do not discriminate based on race, colour, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, gender expression, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an international team working to solve problems with global impact. To facilitate efficient communication and collaboration, proficiency in English is a requirement for all roles. We may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications and analysing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment, final decisions are always made by people. For questions about how your data is processed, please contact us.