Director of Humanoid Robot Mechanical Body

Job description

• Lead Mechanical‑Body R&D for Humanoid Robots
• Take charge of planning, design, review and execution of mechanical‑body solutions, covering the full lifecycle: conceptual design, structural engineering, hardware‑software co‑development, design verification, pilot‑run production and issue closure.
• Familiar with IPD or equivalent product‑development workflows. Drive cross‑functional collaboration, align industrial design, mechanical, electrical‑control, embedded, algorithm, supply‑chain and manufacturing teams to deliver finished products.

• Full‑Machine Mechanical‑Architecture Design
• Lead solution selection and technical validation for robot full‑machine mechanical structures. Balance multiple dimensions including appearance, strength, stiffness, lightweighting, thermal dissipation, assembly, serviceability, cost and mass‑production manufacturability.
• Own full‑machine layout and stack‑up design. Manage space allocation, mounting schemes, wiring routing and assembly concepts for sub‑systems including main‑control boards, power supplies, motors, sensors, vision modules, wire harnesses and connectors.

• Exterior Structure & Bionic Surface Engineering
• Conduct structural design and surface engineering for cosmetic housings, torso and limb shells, joint covers and other components. Perform high‑precision surface reconstruction and structural implementation based on concept art, industrial‑design models, 3D‑scan data or physical prototypes.
• Optimize surface quality, part‑splitting strategy, parting lines, blend radii, assembly interfaces, hidden fasteners, motion clearance and service‑oriented disassembly schemes. Deliver bionic appearance and ergonomic performance while satisfying manufacturability requirements for injection molding, vacuum forming, CNC machining and 3D printing.
• Integrate internal mounting features such as snap‑fits, boss posts, locating ribs, limit features and fool‑proof structures onto aesthetic surfaces. Ensure mechanical‑fit compatibility between cosmetic parts and internal mechanical‑electrical components, and eliminate motion interferences.

• Joint‑Module & Motion‑Mechanism Design
• Design core motion mechanisms: joint modules, transmission chains, motor / servo mounting structures, linkages, bearing assemblies, limit stops, sealing‑protection units and wiring‑routing structures.
• Complete motion simulation, interference checking, stress analysis, stiffness verification and validation of key mechanical parts. Guarantee robot travel range, positioning accuracy, reliability and safety.

• Definition of Key Mechanical Specifications & Design Standards
• Define and maintain core mechanical specs: strength / stiffness targets, motion travel, repeat positioning accuracy, weight & center‑of‑gravity budgets, thermal‑dissipation schemes, ingress‑protection ratings, assembly precision, reliability and manufacturability requirements.
• Deliver mechanical‑design specifications, 3D CAD models, 2D engineering drawings, BOMs, DFM / DFA analyses, surface‑continuity‑analysis reports, verification plans and issue‑closure documentation.

• Prototype Validation & Mass‑Production Ramp‑Up
• Lead or participate in prototyping, assembly reviews, test validation and pilot‑production failure analysis.
• Propose and implement corrective actions for issues including surface warpage, dimensional deviation, assembly interference, motion jamming, insufficient structural strength and abnormal thermal performance.

Requirements

• Educational Background
• Bachelor’s degree or above in Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Industrial Design, Product Design, Vehicle Engineering, Precision Instrument or related disciplines.

• Professional Experience
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical‑structure design or mechanical R&D, with minimum 2 years working on robots, smart hardware, consumer electronics, medical devices, automotive interior‑exterior trims, precision equipment or comparable products.
• Preferred prior‑experience profiles (any one qualifies): ∙ Led mechanical‑body design for humanoid robots, quadruped robots, service robots or bionic robots ∙ Led development of robot joint modules, transmission mechanisms, motor / reducer integration or motion‑mechanism design ∙ Led complex cosmetic‑structure development, Class‑A surface engineering, reverse‑engineering, cosmetic‑part molding conversion or mass‑production introduction ∙ Hands‑on 0‑to‑1 prototype development, engineering‑prototype iteration, pilot‑run or mass‑production ramp‑up experience

• Technical Competencies
• Proficient in at least one mainstream 3D CAD tool: Creo / SolidWorks / CATIA / UG‑NX / Alias / Rhino. Capable of independent complex‑structure design, surface modeling, engineering‑drawing generation and assembly design.
• Solid knowledge of NURBS surface modeling, reverse engineering, surface‑continuity analysis, cosmetic‑part splitting, assembly‑interface design and manufacturing‑process constraints.
• Sound mechanical‑design fundamentals; skilled in motion‑mechanism design, transmission design, strength / stiffness analysis, material selection, thermal design, lightweighting and tolerance analysis.
• Practical understanding of common manufacturing processes: injection molding, CNC machining, sheet‑metal work, die‑casting, 3D printing, silicone and composite materials. Strong DFM / DFA awareness.

• Soft Skills
• Strong systems‑engineering mindset: capable of making well‑grounded trade‑offs among visual aesthetics, structural reliability, motion performance, bill‑of‑material cost and mass‑production feasibility.
• Excellent cross‑team communication and project‑driving skills; able to collaborate efficiently with industrial‑design, electrical‑control, algorithm, embedded, supply‑chain, manufacturing and test teams.
• Robust problem‑solving and issue‑closure capability: rapidly diagnose mechanical failures at prototype and pilot‑production stages and drive design iterations.

Nice to have

• R&D experience with humanoid‑robot full machine, mechanical‑body assemblies or joint modules ‑ Familiarity with harmonic reducers, planetary reducers, torque motors, encoders, brakes, bearings and transmission‑system integration ‑ Experience designing robot housings, joint covers, bionic cosmetic shells or flexible exterior components ‑ Class‑A surface design, reverse‑engineering or molding‑conversion background for consumer‑electronics or automotive interior‑exterior trims ‑ Hands‑on FEA, motion‑simulation, thermal‑simulation or reliability‑validation experience ‑ Supplier development, mold review, pilot‑run ramp‑up and mass‑production troubleshooting experience ‑ Experience as a mechanical‑team lead or technical principal
• Candidate Profiles