Mechanical Engineer Intern

• Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field — with solid coursework in classical mechanics, materials science, and structural engineering.
• Strong understanding of kinematics and mechanism design — you know how to analyze a four-bar linkage, compute a Jacobian for a serial chain, and think about workspace, singularities, and force transmission in a multi-joint finger
• Familiarity with contact mechanics and tribology basics: contact stress, friction coefficients, wear mechanisms, relevant to designing fingertip surfaces and joint interfaces that survive millions of grasp cycles
• Understanding of tolerance analysis and GD&T: you know what a tolerance stackup is, why it matters for a tendon-driven finger, and how to use worst-case or RSS methods to catch problems before fabrication
• Proficient in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, or equivalent parametric CAD: you can model complex multi-body assemblies, run motion studies, and manage configurations for design variants without creating a file management disaster
• Familiarity with designing for lightweight structures: rib patterns, topology optimization concepts, material removal strategies that preserve stiffness while hitting mass targets
• Basic FEA experience in SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, or similar: you can set up a static stress analysis on a finger link under load, interpret von Mises stress results, and identify where a part is over- or under-designed
• Understanding of tendon-driven and linkage-driven actuation mechanisms as used in robotic hands: you know what capstans, routing guides, and differential mechanisms are and why they matter for compact high-DOF designs
• Familiarity with actuator types relevant to robotic fingers: micro brushless DC motors and linear actuators, including the mechanical integration challenges each presents

To be a great candidate, you don't have to check every box. If you're excited about building the next generation of robotic hands and believe you'd bring something valuable to the team, we encourage you to apply. If you have a project presentation or portfolio that showcases relevant work, attach it to your application. Concrete proof of excellence will significantly strengthen your candidacy.