Actuation Engineer, Motor Design

Mindrobotics
Palo Alto, US
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to mid-level engineers with expertise in electromagnetic design and motor simulation, working in robotics or compact electromechanical systems.

Best fit for

  • Engineers who thrive on translating electromagnetic concepts into manufacturable motor designs.
    — “translate electromagnetic concepts into manufacturable assemblies
  • Candidates with hands-on experience in motor prototyping and testing.
    — “Experience taking at least one custom motor from concept through prototype and test
  • Individuals skilled in both electromagnetic simulation and mechanical CAD.
    — “proficiency in mechanical CAD (CATIA, NX, or similar) to produce your own motor mechanical designs

Things to consider

  • Role requires close collaboration with multiple engineering disciplines.
    — “Collaborate with motor controls, firmware, and mechanical integration engineers
  • Must be comfortable with the full design loop from simulation to prototype.
    — “Drive the full design loop from concept through prototype

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific motor topologies you've designed, like axial flux or slotless.
    — “unconventional topologies: axial flux, slotless, coreless and etc.
  • Demonstrate how you've correlated simulation data with real-world motor performance.
    — “correlate simulation to measured performance and iterate designs based on data
  • Showcase projects where you balanced torque density with manufacturability.
    — “optimized for extreme torque density and compact packaging
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • design novel electric motor architectures
  • drive full design loop from concept through prototype
Typical background
B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Electromagnetic SimulationMotor DesignElectrical EngineeringMechanical CAD

Preferred

Axial Flux Motor DesignSlotless Motor Design

Stack & domain

Ansys MaxwellMotor-cadCatiaNxElectromagnetic SimulationMechanical CadElectric MachinesMotor Design

About the role

Original posting from Mindrobotics via Ashby

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Motor Designer on our team, you will own the electromagnetic design of custom motors and, together with mechanical, controls, and manufacturing partners, rethink what a motor can look like when every cubic millimeter matters. You will move fluidly between simulation, prototype, and bench, and your designs will end up inside robots that interact with the physical world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Design novel electric motor architectures (BLDC, PMSM, unconventional topologies: axial flux, slotless, coreless and etc. ) optimized for extreme torque density and compact packaging.
  • Perform electromagnetic simulation and analysis (2D/3D FEA) to evaluate torque, efficiency, thermal behavior, cogging, back-EMF, and loss breakdown across operating points.
  • Drive the full design loop from concept through prototype: winding configuration, magnet selection and layout, stator and rotor geometry, lamination and airgap design.
  • Produce mechanical designs in CAD AND/OR partner closely with suppliers and mechanical engineers to translate electromagnetic concepts into manufacturable assemblies.
  • Specify and review motor components with external vendors, including reviewing their drawings, tolerances, materials, and process capabilities.
  • Define and execute dynamometer and characterization testing; correlate simulation to measured performance and iterate designs based on data.
  • Collaborate with motor controls, firmware, and mechanical integration engineers to make sure the motor performs well as part of a complete actuator and robot system.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, with a focus on electric machines.
  • Strong electromagnetic simulation skills using tools such as Ansys Maxwell, Motor-CAD, or equivalent, including 2D/3D FEA and parametric studies.
  • Deep understanding of electric machine fundamentals: torque production, winding design, magnetic materials, losses, thermal limits, and control interactions.
  • Experience taking at least one custom motor from concept through prototype and test.
  • Either (a) proficiency in mechanical CAD (CATIA, NX, or similar) to produce your own motor mechanical designs, or (b) demonstrated experience working closely with suppliers and mechanical engineers to deliver manufacturable motor assemblies.

Source: Mindrobotics careers (Ashby)

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