Senior Mechanical Engineer

Job description

## Why AIM? ### Joining AIM, You Will Everything humanity depends on is mined, dug, or grown. At AIM, we are building the autonomous linchpin of civilization. We transform heavy machinery—bulldozers, loaders, excavators—into AI-powered fleets that operate continuously, safely, and at peak performance in the world’s harshest environments. AIM runs production mines, large scale infrastructure builds, and defense operations as a TRL9 hardened system, not a science experiment. Built by engineers from mining, construction, Waymo, SpaceX, Google and Tesla, AIM enables scalable earthmoving, turbocharging the global economy’s physical foundation. AIM is backed by some of the most sophisticated capital in the world, including General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Elad Gil, Human Capital, Ironspring Ventures, Mantis, DCVC. ## About The Role About Us AIM builds autonomy for the real world - robots that move mountains. Our systems combine software, hardware, robotics, and mission-critical infrastructure into ruggedized, safety-critical machinery operating in some of the harshest environments on earth. Our customers depend on our machines to work reliably in dust, mud, vibration, shock loads, thermal extremes, and unpredictable jobsite conditions. Mechanical engineering is at the foundation of this mission. Our hardware must be robust to all the conditions the machines work in, tolerating shock, vibration, and environmental conditions from full desert sun to deep snow. The system must be field-serviceable, and deeply integrated with autonomy, electrical, and software systems. We design mechanical systems that perform not just in CAD or simulation, but in real-world chaos: misalignment, wear, debris, hydraulic spray, operator variability, and global deployment. We're scaling fast and building the mechanical engineering foundation that will define the next century of construction and autonomy. About You You're a builder who thrives at the intersection of mechanical design, robotics, and field-hardened hardware. You design robust mechanical systems backed by strong engineering fundamentals - from defining & refining system requirements, through prototyping and analysis, to testing and verifying your designs. You move confidently between CAD, analysis, prototyping, test & verification, and field debugging. You take end-to-end ownership of your subsystems - from concept to production, and from test failures to corrective redesign. You work fluidly across electrical, autonomy, software, and field deployment teams. You have high judgment in ambiguous situations and can connect mechanical decisions directly to customer outcomes and machine behavior. You want to solve problems where precision, durability, safety, and reliability matter; and where your designs directly power autonomous heavy equipment in the field. About Us Together We're going to change how the world builds. Along the way, we'll take on mechanical engineering challenges such as: - Shock, vibration, and fatigue loads that exceed typical industrial design envelopes - High-precision mechanical integration of sensors, compute, and electronics - Environmental sealing against the harsh environments these machines operate in, up to IP69K for protection from pressure washing - Structural design of steel weldments, brackets, housings, and protective assemblies - Thermal management of electronic components and systems - Field variability, installation constraints, and operator behavior - Seamless integration of systems across a large range of machine types and models - Durability and reliability across global deployments We will iterate quickly, debate solutions, confront the truth when designs fail, and build mechanisms that elevate reliability over time. We'll ship hardware that works not only in the lab, but on dozers, excavators, and loaders operating in the elements. If that excites you, you're the kind of Senior Mechanical Engineer who will thrive here. ## Responsibilities What You Will Own As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will design and deliver the core mechanical systems that enable AIM's autonomous machines to operate safely, reliably, and predictably in the field. Architect & Deliver Robust Mechanical Systems - Own major mechanical subsystems such as sensor suites, compute enclosures, LiDAR and camera mounts, structural brackets, safety housings, and environmental protection systems. - Create concepts and designs for manufacturable, field-serviceable solutions to challenging engineering problems. - Transform customer needs and product requirements into mechanical architectures and integration strategies across machine platforms. Design, Analyze & Model - Produce high-quality CAD (SolidWorks, OnShape, or similar) to communicate design intent and critical dimensions and properties to fabrication and manufacturing partners. Take CAD from quick concept and prototyping activities, all the way to full production designs, with detailed drawings, tolerances, and inspection plans. - Perform advanced mechanical analysis to inform you designs - from numerical analysis through to FEA as you consider material selection and designs to meet the environment your designs need to operate in, including fatigue, vibration, shock, and thermal considerations. - Evaluate tradeoffs between manufacturability, reliability, cost, weight, and serviceability. Prototype, Test & Validate - Prototype designs using internal and external fabrication resources; iterate quickly based on fit, function, and field feedback. - Execute rigorous verification plans, including ingress testing, vibration & shock testing, thermal testing, fit checks, and field trials. - Conduct failure analysis and drive corrective-action loops that meaningfully improve robustness. Integrate Across Disciplines - Collaborate closely with EE, SWE, Autonomy, Systems, TPMs, Deployment Engineers, and OEM partners to ensure seamless mechanical-electrical integration. - Clarify ambiguous requirements early by surfacing mechanical risks and installation constraints. - Ensure designs account for operator behavior, jobsite realities, and real-world tolerances. Manufacture & Scale - Create detailed manufacturing drawings and documentation for production. - Work with vendors, fabricators, and assembly houses to build reliable supply chains and ensure manufacturability at scale. - Improve manufacturing yield and reduce manufacturing times through DFM and serviceability-driven design improvements. Raise the Mechanical Engineering Bar - Mentor and guide junior and mid-level mechanical engineers; lead by example in design reviews and technical discussions. - Improve mechanical engineering practices: validation plans, part libraries, design patterns, documentation, and standards. - Help define what mechanical engineering excellence looks like at AIM. ## Qualifications Basic Qualifications - BS degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent practical experience. - 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering and product development. - Strong mechanical fundamentals: machine design, structural analysis, thermal analysis & modeling - Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, OnShape, or similar). - Experience performing component-level FEA and mechanical simulation. - Hands-on experience with prototyping, bench/field testing, environmental testing, and failure analysis. - Experience working with component vendors, sensor vendors, and assembly houses. - Ability to work cross-functionally in collaborative, fast-paced environments. - Ability to occasionally travel to production sites and customer deployments. Preferred Qualifications - Experience designing ruggedized systems for construction, mining, agriculture, or heavy equipment. - Experience designing welded structures, steel mounting systems, and fabrication-driven assemblies. - Experience with environmental sealing, thermal management, vibration/shock mitigation, or fatigue engineering. - Working knowledge of electrical systems, sensors, compute integration, or electromechanical assemblies. - Experience with welding, machining, metal fabrication, and industrial manufacturing methods. How You'll Stand Out - You design mechanical systems that are simple, durable, manufacturable, and field-ready. - You turn ambiguous requirements into clear mechanical architectures. - You combine analytical rigor with practical field intuition. - You elevate validation quality, documentation, and cross-functional alignment. - You raise engineering standards through mentorship, reviewing, and mechanisms. - You own your subsystems end-to-end, including failures, redesigns, and improvements over time. What We Offer - Opportunity to build products that directly shape the future of autonomy and heavy equipment robotics. - High-impact ownership across AIM's autonomy stack and global deployments. - Collaboration with world-class engineers across software, autonomy, hardware, and robotics. - Competitive compensation, equity, medical/dental/vision, 401(k), life insurance. - Travel opportunities to customer jobsites across the U.S., Australia, Europe, Africa, South America, and more. ##