Mechanical Design Engineer, Robotics (Early-Stage Industrial Automation)
ScrumAID
San Francisco, CA · Posted October 31, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
More in California job market · Mechanical Design Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA (11) · All Mechanical Design Engineer jobs (203) · Technology & Software · Engineering jobs
More roles at ScrumAID
- Applied AI Research Scientist, Continual Learning (Physical-World AI) · San Francisco, CA
- Deployment Strategist (Insurance AI Startup) · San Francisco, CA
- Forward Deployed Infrastructure Engineer (Document AI) · San Francisco, CA
- Principal Compliance Lead (Defense Manufacturing Roll-Up) · Los Angeles, CA
- Applied AI Engineer (AI Agent Evaluation Startup) · San Francisco, CA
- Post-Training Research Engineer (Applied AI Agents Startup) · San Jose, CA
Similar jobs
- Product Engineer, Front End · Flux · San Francisco, CA
- Mechanical Engineer III - Actuation · Crane · Burbank, CA
- Product Engineer, New Products · Y Combinator · CA
- Senior Mechanical Engineer - Wastewater · Parsons · Fountain Valley, CA
- Product Engineer, Applications Operations · Y Combinator · CA
- Design Engineer · Gumloop · San Francisco, CA
Where San Francisco, CA ranks
Where San Francisco, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for security jobs316 openings · of 20
- #1Best cities for technology jobs7,178 openings · of 100
- #1Best cities for financial services pay after cost of living$173k · of 33
- #1Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills35% · of 100
- #1Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the West Coast35% · of 54
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the West Coast902 jobs · of 47
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 41 open mechanical design engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $100,000 to $145,000 and the median is $120,000.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
Mechanical Design Engineer salaries by state · Check your own pay
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
A stealth-mode robotics startup that develops and deploys robots that operate on their own in industrial settings is adding an early mechanical hire to its hardware group. The role covers the physical layer of the robot, from arms and grippers to complete assemblies, and suits a generalist who likes making things.
Your focus
Create and validate end-effectors tailored to particular jobs as well as general-use ones
Develop the hardware of the deployment platform, mixing custom parts with off-the-shelf components
Turn around bespoke devices such as teleoperation leader arms and data-collection rigs in days to weeks
Handle actuator design and integration, including finite element analysis, for robotic arms that carry industrial loads
Alternate between rapid prototypes that clear the way for the machine learning team and longer projects such as bespoke arms and actuators
Convert manipulation requirements from the ML, electronics and field teams into working hardware, carrying fixtures, tooling and complete assemblies from idea to the field
About you
Up to about four years of mechanical engineering experience in robotics, actuators or hardware products
Strong CAD skills in SolidWorks, Onshape or Fusion, paired with hands-on fabrication
A visible portfolio of personal or independent hardware projects
Designs you have carried from concept through manufacturing and deployment
Experience with manufacturing methods such as machining, sheet metal, molding or 3D printing is a plus
A mechanical engineering degree for senior applicants; strong portfolios can stand in for junior ones
On-site in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the office full time. Visa transfers considered.