Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Robot Cladding & A-Class Surfaces

At Rhoda AI, we're building the full-stack foundation for the next generation of humanoid robots — from high-performance, software-defined hardware to the foundational models and video world models that control it. Our robots are designed to be generalists capable of operating in complex, real-world environments and handling scenarios unseen in training. We work at the intersection of large-scale learning, robotics, and systems, with a research team that includes researchers from Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and beyond. We're not building a feature; we're building a new computing platform for physical work — and with over $400M raised, we're investing aggressively in the R&D, hardware development, and manufacturing scale-up to make that a reality.

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Robot Cladding & A-Class Surfaces

What to Expect

As a Senior Engineer, you will own the full product lifecycle of our robot’s Class-A surfaces that define its appearance and protect its core.

Robots are high performance multiaxial kinematic systems where heavy-duty structural integrity meets sub millimeter precision.

In this role, you are the CEO of your components. You will navigate a diverse landscape of materials (e.g., textiles, polymers, and composites), interfacing with cross-functional teams to ensure our products are functional, reliable, robust, and well-crafted.

We operate as T-shaped engineers. While you must be a generalist capable of solving any hardware challenge, your superpower for this role must be thin-walled component design and industrialization from concept to mass production.

What You’ll Do

• End-to-End Ownership: Manage the product lifecycle from initial concept and design studio interaction to end-of-life, ensuring feasibility, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

• A-Class Surface Integration: Integrate the cladding subsystem of your ownership, balancing aesthetic, mechanical, cost, and time constraints.

• Systems & Tolerance Management: Define design criteria and lead engineering studies for subsystem compatibility. Perform dimensional stack-up analysis for critical-to-function and aesthetic interfaces.

• Detailed Engineering & DfM: Design complex B-side features (ribbing, bosses, clip towers, hooks) that support performance without compromising A-side aesthetics. Develop robust attachment strategies, including joining features (e.g., snaps, hooks, welds).

• Validation & Prototyping: Coordinate cladding prototype builds, evaluate assembly feasibility during slow builds, and validate components against requirements.

• Technical Documentation: Produce high-fidelity 3D CAD models (CATIA preferred) and 2D engineering drawings with comprehensive GD&T and datum strategies.

• Simulation & Failure Avoidance: Interpret FEA analysis (e.g., structural, Moldflow) to iterate designs. Think at a systems level and apply a failure mode avoidance mentality to ensure long-term reliability.

• Supplier & Cross-Functional Interaction: Partner with Supply Chain and Tier 1/2 suppliers for RFQs and technical feasibility reviews; troubleshoot integration issues during build phases.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.

• Experience: 5+ years of engineering experience, including at least one full-cycle product launch.

• Core Fundamentals: Proficiency in design integration to balance material selection, geometry, and structural trade-offs informed by product use cases and functional/engineering requirements.

• Technical "Superpower": Deep Knowledge in thin-walled component design and/or high-performance composites (fiber-resin systems).

• Engineering Tools: Ability to define datum strategies and tolerances from concept through to Class-A maturation with a deep understanding of GD&T as a driver. Proficiency in CATIA (or equivalent) with the ability to communicate ideas through sections and CAD studies to progress development to production.

• The "Owner" Mindset: Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to use first principles thinking to solve technical bottlenecks under tight timelines.

Bonus Points (The "Plus" List)

• Soft Goods Experience: Experience integrating textiles, artificial leather, elastomers, or cellular structures into designs.

• Advanced Manufacturing: Deep knowledge of injection molding, RIM, vacuum forming, or thermoforming.

• Finishing & Lighting: Familiarity with polymer surface finishes (painting, plating, etc.) or integration of vehicle interior lighting.

• Dual-Hat Experience: Background in both Design Engineering and Manufacturing/Assembly Engineering.