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Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered humanoid robots (Apollo) to support humanity across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and beyond. The company operates at the cutting edge of applied AI, tackling the full robotics stack from safety to commercialization and mass production.
As a Staff Drivetrain Engineer, you will lead the conceptualization, design, build, and testing of drivetrain technologies for electric actuators. This is a hands-on technical role with company-wide scope across the drivetrain architecture for Apollo.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conceptualize and design drivetrains optimized for mass, volume, inertia, efficiency, torques, and speeds
- Design gear tooth profiles to optimize backlash, efficiency, strength, and lifetime
- Select bearing layouts and types based on performance characteristics, loads, and packaging constraints
- Develop lubrication strategies considering maintenance, performance, and lifetime
- Perform advanced analysis (FEA, gear analysis software, static analysis) to optimize and validate designs
- Select materials and manufacturing methods to balance actuation performance and cost
- Create GD&T-informed drawings, bills of material, and procurement documentation
- Produce assembly instructions and finalize project documentation
- Participate in pilot builds and design validation
- Perform DVP&R to ensure designs meet requirements
- Iterate designs for scalability and design-for-manufacturability and assembly (DFMA)
- Collaborate with cross-disciplinary engineering teams
You will work in a dynamic startup environment on critical problems in robotics and applied AI.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 8+ years of experience in development of drivetrains, gearboxes, actuators, or similar, specifically within robotics, automotive, or aerospace industries
- High proficiency in gear design software (KISSsoft, Romax, or similar) and CAD (NX, Solidworks, Onshape, etc.)
- Strong understanding of gear manufacturing technologies, gear analysis, and tribology
- Extensive knowledge of gearbox types (planetary, spur gear, etc.) and relevant industry standards (AGMA, SAE, ISO)
- Mastery of engineering fundamentals and first principles
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Excellent teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills
- Strong organizational and time management abilities
- Ability to multi-task and manage conflicting deadlines
