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Senior Staff/Principal Mechanical Engineer - Spot

Job Description

Boston Dynamics is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer and Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to join our Spot robot team. In this role, you will be a technical anchor for new product initiatives, designing the complex drivetrains and/or ruggedized hardware required for the world’s most demanding environments. You’ll love working on a fun, collaborative, and talented team to support one of the world’s coolest robots. 

Boston Dynamics is a world leader in mobile robots, tackling some of the toughest robotics challenges. For years, our awe-inspiring viral videos on YouTube have shown the world what remarkably capable robots can do. Now we are quickly becoming a recognized leader in automation solutions for industrial applications and warehouse logistics.  
 

How you will make an impact:

  • Own robot subsystems through architecture, development, and volume manufacturing

  • Lead a cross functional team to develop complex robotic sub-systems 

  • Develop proofs of concept designs, transition them to prototype designs and then to production designs

  • Collaborate with other engineers to solve hard design problems and work across disciplines to understand failure modes

  • Design and release parts, assemblies and drawings using CATIA.

  • Develop production and support documentation including bills of material (BOMs), assembly drawings, and maintenance instructions.

  • Plan and and/or perform verification and validation activities on prototype and production systems.

  • Lead DFM / DFA, and cost-reduction activities

  • Troubleshoot issues, root cause failure analysis, design and implement corrective and preventative solutions

  • Mentor and advise less experienced members of the engineering team

  • Author technical documentation such as specifications, test plans, and reports

  • Collaborate with engineering, operations, manufacturing, compliance, and test teams

  • Write Engineering Change Orders (ECOs)

  • Lead design reviews and drive technical excellence

  • Perform system design analyses, including reliability, design-for-manufacture, design-for-assembly, cost-takeout, etc

Required Skills:

  • BSME and minimum 5 years (Senior Staff level) or 10 years (Principal level) of relevant experience (including MSME/PhD degrees with professional engineering experience)

  • Advanced CATIA user or equivalent (NX, Solidworks, etc.), including finite element analysis, 2D drawings, simulations,

  • Familiarity with PLM systems, (Arena preferred), and ECO process

  • Experience designing motion control systems with sensors, actuators and complex mechanisms

  • Experience designing systems that are used in industrial settings

  • A working knowledge of ASME drafting standards including GD&T, (Y14.5-2018)

  • A working knowledge of DFM/A, Six Sigma, and statistical tolerance analysis

  • A working knowledge of structured problem solving methods including 8D and Ishikawa diagrams, (fishbone)

  • A working knowledge of failure avoidance methods including DFMEA/PFMEA and fault tree analysis

  • Able to manage more than one project concurrently while still meeting deadlines.

  • High level of technical writing proficiency (specs, test plans, reports, white papers, etc.)

Bonus Skills

  • Demonstrated success in advanced actuator and gear design. You should have deep experience with high-ratio gearing, bearing life calculations, and the thermal management of high-performance drivetrains.

A brief portfolio of images with short descriptions of recent work is required via either web-link or pdf/ppt 

The base pay range for this position is between $134,000 to $208,000 annually. Base pay will depend on multiple individualized factors including, but not limited to internal equity, job related knowledge, skills and experience.  This range represents a good faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Boston Dynamics offers a generous Benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401(k), paid time off and a annual bonus structure.  Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer for employment.

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Job Details

Category
Mechanical
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Waltham, MA
Posted
Feb 17, 2026, 07:00 PM
Listed
Mar 11, 2026, 09:49 PM

About Boston Dynamics

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Senior Staff/Principal Mechanical Engineer - Spot
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