Senior Mechanical Engineer (12-month contract)

At Serve Robotics, we’re reimagining how things move in cities. Our personable sidewalk robot is our vision for the future. It’s designed to take deliveries away from congested streets, make deliveries available to more people, and benefit local businesses. The Serve fleet has been delighting merchants, customers, and pedestrians along the way in Los Angeles while doing commercial deliveries.

The Serve fleet has been delighting merchants, customers, and pedestrians along the way in Los Angeles while doing commercial deliveries. We’re looking for talented individuals who will grow robotic deliveries from surprising novelty to efficient ubiquity.

Who We Are

We are tech industry veterans in software, hardware, and design who are pooling our skills to build the future we want to live in. We are solving real-world problems leveraging robotics, machine learning and computer vision, among other disciplines, with a mindful eye towards the end-to-end user experience. Our team is agile, diverse, and driven. We believe that the best way to solve complicated dynamic problems is collaboratively and respectfully.

Your role primarily focuses on the production elements of the robot lifecycle while having a strong supporting role in the other design stages. Your day-to-day duties include supporting the production of fleet hardware through a combination of root cause analysis, CAD design, drawing creation, testing and assisting in fleet deployment. 

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical interface between Serve mechanical engineering and contract manufacturers.

• Provide on-the-ground mechanical engineering support to ensure seamless production and troubleshoot any manufacturing issues.

• Identify and implement design improvements that enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce cost, and improve product reliability.

• Conduct root cause analysis and develop solutions for mechanical failures and production downtime.

• Assist in the full product development lifecycle, from concept to mass production, ensuring designs meet quality, performance, and regulatory standards.

• Review and refine engineering drawings, CAD models, and SOPs for manufacturability and assembly.

• Support design validation, testing, and qualification to ensure adherence to product requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

• 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in robotics, automation, or high-tech manufacturing.

• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, GD&T, DFM/DFA methodologies, and structural analysis.

• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks or Onshape) and experience with FEA simulations.

• Proficiency with PLM software (e.g. Arena) for engineering change management and configuration control.

• Hands-on experience with manufacturing processes such as injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, machining, and 3D printing. Knowledge of materials selection and their impact on design and manufacturability.

• Proven track record of working with contract manufacturers and suppliers in a production environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to quickly adapt to manufacturing challenges.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills to coordinate with global teams.

• Willingness to travel as needed to support production and supplier engagements.