Lead Mechanical Engineer

About this role

Lead the Retail HW team and mentor a small group of 2–3 mechanical and electrical engineers. The role guides hardware development from early prototyping through production readiness, including regular one-on-ones, goal setting, feedback, workload planning, design reviews, and execution of measurable product milestones. The lead is expected to keep work progressing across team boundaries, including situations where there is no direct authority over other contributors.

Establish working systems that improve engineering efficiency and output. These systems may include CAD design standards, documentation practices, testing processes, and communication procedures.

Provide hands-on design and system integration leadership for critical subsystems of the Ghost drink-restocking robot. The work may cover robotic arms, custom grippers and other end-effectors, mobility and locomotion platforms, and smart shelves.

Own the Bill of Materials and procurement process for prototype hardware. Track component lead times, manage sourcing, and keep prototype build schedules on track. Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturers, fabrication partners, and component distributors for custom CNC parts, sheet metal, injection molding, and off-the-shelf components.

Lead systematic debugging when parts fail during testing. Perform root cause and failure analysis by examining issues such as tolerances, material fatigue, and thermal wear, then convert the findings into corrective design actions. Work cross-functionally with Software, Firmware, Production, and Operations teams to support mechatronic integration.