← All roles

Senior Gear Design Engineer

Figure· Hardware
Apply on company site
San Jose, CA$160k - $250kfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Senior Gear Design Engineer to own gear and transmission design for humanoid robot hands, from sizing through validation and mass manufacturing, enabling grasping and manipulation in a high-DOF robotic hand.

Responsibilities

  • Own gear design end-to-end: system-level sizing, macro and micro geometry definition, rating and life analysis, prototyping, validation, and ramp to mass production.
  • Perform gear sizing, contact/bending stress analysis, and micro-geometry optimization (profile and lead modifications) in KISSsoft to meet efficiency, durability, backlash, and NVH targets.
  • Design gears, shafts, and transmission assemblies in 3D CAD (CATIA) that satisfy extreme packaging, load, and durability requirements of a high-DOF robotic hand.
  • Define gear manufacturing strategy — cutting, grinding, powder metal, MIM, or plastics — and drive DFM with suppliers from first articles through high-volume production.
  • Generate accurate 2D drawings with gear data tables and GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and define inspection and metrology plans for incoming quality.
  • Build and run test rigs to characterize efficiency, backlash, wear, and fatigue life; correlate test data back to analytical models.
  • Collaborate closely with actuator, structures, EE, and manufacturing teams — proactively identifying risks, driving decisions, and unblocking the program without waiting to be asked.

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience designing gears and geared transmissions.
  • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or similar field.
  • Demonstrated ownership of complete gear designs from initial sizing through mass manufacturing.
  • Proficiency in KISSsoft (or equivalent) for gear rating, contact analysis, and micro-geometry optimization.
  • Proficiency in CATIA (or equivalent high-end 3D CAD) for complex geometry and large assemblies.
  • Working knowledge of AGMA/ISO gear rating standards, gear metrology, and tolerancing.
  • Experience with gear manufacturing processes (hobbing, shaping, skiving, grinding, powder metal, MIM, or injection molding) and supplier development.
  • A strong team player with a high sense of agency — you take ownership of outcomes, communicate openly, and elevate the people around you.

Skills

Required:Gear design and transmission systemsKISSsoftCATIAAGMA/ISO gear standardsManufacturing liaison

Benefits

  • The US base salary range for this full-time position is $160,000 to $250,000 per year.
  • The pay offered may vary based on individual factors; total compensation package may include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role.
Last updated Oct 7, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Figure

The future of home help is here

Figure is the first-of-its-kind AI robotics company bringing a general purpose humanoid to life.

liquid-ai-recruiting-targetphysical-ai-funding-landscapesetter-30setter-30-2026-q1
Company profileWebsite

More open roles at Figure