Mechatronics Engineer - Surgical Robotics

About the Role

We are building a surgical robotics platform from the ground up a clean-sheet system spanning mechanical design, embedded electronics, motion control, and safety-critical software. This is a rare opportunity to shape core architecture decisions (kinematics, actuation strategy, sensing, and control) that will define the platform for years to come, working in an FDA-regulated, safety-critical environment where your engineering directly impacts patient outcomes.

As a Mechatronics Engineer, you'll be a hands-on contributor building core subsystems of our surgical robot — from early concept and prototyping through verification and design transfer. You'll work closely with senior engineers on architecture while owning specific subsystems end-to-end.

What You'll Do

Design and develop mechatronic subsystems for a surgical robot — spanning mechanical linkages/manipulators, actuation (motors, gearing, drivetrains), sensing (encoders, force/torque, proximity), and low-level embedded control.

Work across the full stack: mechanical CAD and tolerance analysis, electrical/motor drive integration, firmware/controls, and system-level integration and test.

Build and test prototypes — breadboards, bench rigs, and integrated subsystem demonstrators — to validate design concepts against clinical and performance requirements.

Develop and tune control algorithms (PID, feedforward, impedance/admittance control, haptic feedback loops) for precise, safe manipulator motion.

Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and human factors engineers, plus clinical/surgeon stakeholders, to translate procedural requirements into engineering specifications.

Support design verification and validation (V&V) activities, including test protocol development, execution, and documentation under design controls.

Contribute to risk analysis (FMEA), design reviews, and technical documentation in accordance with medical device quality systems (ISO 13485, IEC 60601, IEC 62304 as applicable).

Debug and resolve issues across hardware/software/firmware boundaries during integration and system testing.

Take ownership of individual mechatronic subsystems (e.g., an instrument drive unit, joint module, or end-effector actuation stage) from requirements through prototype and test.

Participate in design reviews and iterate quickly based on bench data and test results.

What We're Looking For

Required

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.

Hands-on experience across mechanical design (CAD, GD&T, tolerance stack-up), electrical/electronics integration, and embedded controls — true cross-disciplinary mechatronics, not a single specialty.

Experience with motor selection, sizing, and drive integration (BLDC, stepper, or servo systems) and associated feedback devices (encoders, resolvers).

Proficiency with control theory fundamentals and practical tuning (PID, state-space, or model-based control) in a real-time embedded environment.

Working knowledge of C/C++ for embedded firmware; familiarity with Python or MATLAB/Simulink for modeling, simulation, and analysis.

Experience with lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, DAQ, dynamometers) for subsystem characterization and debugging.

Strong understanding of tolerances, materials, and manufacturing processes (machining, injection molding, sheet metal) relevant to precision mechanisms.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document designs clearly for cross-functional and regulatory audiences.

4–8 years of professional experience in mechatronics, robotics, or a closely related discipline, ideally including at least one full product development cycle.