Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Robotics & Automation

Austinfull time

On Site

senior

H1B: no

Valstad Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Valstad owns mechanical design and development of robotic tooling and automation equipment. The role includes concept development, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and deployment of complex robotic end-of-arm tooling.

Responsibilities

You'll own the mechanical design and development of sophisticated robotic tooling, end effectors, fixtures, and automation equipment used to reinvent the way we build ships in America.
This is a hands-on engineering role spanning concept development, detailed mechanical design, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and deployment.
We're particularly interested in engineers who have designed and built complex, custom end-of-arm tooling for industrial robots, including systems incorporating multiple actuators, sensors, gripping mechanisms, and precision mechanical assemblies. Bonus points if you've worked on high-mix applications.
Design and develop custom robotic end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), including grippers, manipulators, welding tools, and multifunction end effectors.
Engineer sophisticated mechanical assemblies incorporating electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic actuation.
Design fixtures, positioning systems, and automated material-handling equipment for large steel structures.
Perform mechanical calculations, structural analysis, tolerance analysis, and design optimization.
Integrate motors, gearboxes, linear motion systems, bearings, sensors, and other electromechanical components.
Collaborate closely with robotics, controls, and manufacturing engineers to develop complete automated systems.
Own the full design-build-test iteration cycle, from early prototypes to production-ready machinery.
Work directly with fabricators and technicians to troubleshoot and improve equipment on the shop floor.

Qualification

Particularly Valuable ExperienceIndustrial robotic systems (FANUCComplex grippersHeavy industrial automationServo-actuated mechanismsExperience with complex grippers

Required

5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, machine design, or industrial automation.
Demonstrated experience designing and building complex robotic end-of-arm tooling or custom automated machinery.
Expert proficiency in 3D CAD and mechanical assembly design.
Strong understanding of machine elements, mechanisms, actuation systems, and structural design.
Experience with design for manufacturing, machining, welding, and mechanical fabrication.
Ability to independently take a mechanical system from concept through physical implementation.
Strong practical engineering instincts and comfort working directly with hardware.
Particularly Valuable Experience
Industrial robotic systems (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, etc.).
Complex grippers, multi-axis tooling, and adaptive manipulation systems.
Heavy industrial automation, welding automation, or automated material handling.
Servo-actuated mechanisms, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

Preferred

Experience with industrial robotic systems (FANUC, ABB, KUKA, etc.)
Experience with complex grippers, multi-axis tooling, and adaptive manipulation systems
Experience with heavy industrial automation, welding automation, or automated material handling
Experience with servo-actuated mechanisms