Mechanical Engineer

12-month fixed-term contract (with potential to extend or convert to permanent)

Andromeda Robotics is an ambitious social robotics company with offices in Melbourne and San Francisco, dedicated to creating robots that seamlessly and intelligently interact with the human world. Our first robot, Abi, is a custom-built platform designed to be a helpful aid and intuitive partner in aged care homes. We are a passionate, collaborative team of engineers who solve some of the most challenging problems in AI and robotics.

• Empathy — Kindness and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.
• Play — Play sharpens focus. It keeps us curious, fast and obsessed with the craft.
• Never Settle — A relentless ambition, bias toward action, and uncomfortable levels of curiosity.
• Tenacity — We assume chaos, stay in motion, and adapt under pressure.
• Unity — Different minds. Shared mission. No passengers.

We're hiring an early‑career Mechanical Engineer to contribute to the design, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing support of Abi, our social robot platform. This is a hands‑on role that translates real user needs into robust product improvements and lightweight manufacturing protocols. You'll work across CAD and technical drawings, material selection, jigs/fixtures, root‑cause failure analysis, and close day‑to‑day interfacing with our manufacturing team. You'll collaborate heavily with Software and Electrical teams to ensure a reliable, elegant product experience.

Ideal for someone with 1–2 years' experience (or significant team/project experience during university) who enjoys getting on the tools, has opinions backed by reasoning, and communicates clearly with a commercial lens. We are also open to a penultimate/final‑year student for a 12‑month industrial placement.

Requirements

• Contribute to the mechanical design and iterative improvement of Abi's hardware, focusing on reliability, user interaction, serviceability and cost.
• Translate field insights (durability, ease of maintenance) into practical and shippable design changes.
• Strengthen our prototyping, workshop and test processes for new mechanical components and sub‑assemblies.
• Help select and validate appropriate materials, tolerances and manufacturing methods for new parts and subsystems.

• Create and maintain mechanical designs and technical drawings in CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360); produce clear manufacturing documentation.
• Design and build manufacturing jigs and fixtures to support repeatable, safe assembly.
• Design, build and test prototypes for new robot features and mechanical subsystems (e.g., end‑effectors, chassis components, sensing mounts).
• Perform mechanical troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis; implement corrective actions and quick-turn improvements.
• Instrument and track product/field metrics (e.g., failure rates, MTBF, maintenance time) and use them to drive design decisions.
• Liaise day‑to‑day with the internal manufacturing team and external suppliers; support DFM/DFA, quality checks and first-article reviews.
• Collaborate with Customer Success and Software teams to observe usage, prioritise fixes, and close the loop on design changes.
• Communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders; write crisp design notes and post‑mortems.
• Ship small, frequent improvements; own outcomes end‑to‑end.

• 1–2 years' industry experience or substantial team‑based project work in Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong foundation in mechanical design principles and hands‑on experience building and troubleshooting small, complex mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CAD and technical drawings (SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360).
• Familiarity with manual workshop techniques and rapid prototyping (3D printing, hand tools, basic machining); strong safety mindset.
• Mechanical troubleshooting skills; comfortable diagnosing and resolving issues quickly.
• Collaborative working style with Software and Electrical teams; mechatronics exposure is a plus (core remit remains mechanical).
• Clear communication and commercial awareness; able to turn field learnings into pragmatic product changes.

• Design for Manufacturing (DFM/DFA) and working with contract manufacturers/suppliers.
• Experience creating jigs/fixtures, basic metrology/inspection, and workshop process documentation.
• Familiarity with CNC workflows, 3D printing operations and small‑format machinery.
• ERP familiarity and Bill of Materials (BOM) management.
• Robotics or electromechanical product experience; exposure to smaller devices (e.g., drones) preferred over heavy industry.
• University team experience that signals hands‑on build and systems thinking (e.g., Formula SAE, Rover teams, robotics clubs, maker projects).

• Maker experience and evidence of getting things working in the real world.
• CAD‑led design projects where you owned drawings and tolerances through to a physical prototype.
• Workshop time: 3D printing, assembly, rework, fixture building, test setups.
• Cross‑functional collaboration (mechanical with software and electrical).

Benefits

The salary for this position may vary depending on factors such as job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional benefits or components based on the specific role. Details will be provided if an employment offer is made.

If you're excited about this role but don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. At Andromeda Robotics, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.