Intern, Mechanical Design - Wiring Harness- Fall 2026

Mindrobotics
Palo Alto, CA
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Mechanical engineering students with CAD and hands-on wiring experience will find this hardware-focused, junior-level role in Palo Alto suits those seeking active contribution to physical AI systems.

Best fit for

  • Mechanical engineering students with CAD and hands-on wiring experience will find this hardware-focused, junior-level role in Palo Alto suits those seeking active contribution to physical AI systems.
    — “Embedded directly alongside our senior hardware engineers
  • Candidates who enjoy solving complex physical systems problems and seeing their work physically implemented in robots
    — “see your work built directly into the robot
  • Individuals with strong attention to detail and an interest in electromechanical assembly and testing
    — “A transposed pin number in a run list becomes a failed build

Things to consider

  • The role requires physical presence for hands-on tasks like crimping and assembling harnesses
    — “Build prototype harnesses on the board — cut, strip, crimp, terminate shields
  • Candidates must be comfortable with ambiguity and system-level thinking, not just isolated tasks
    — “You are comfortable with ambiguity, move fast, and have an 'engineering curiosity'

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with 3D CAD systems like SolidWorks, Creo, or NX in your resume
    — “solid SolidWorks, Creo, or NX experience transfers fine
  • Demonstrate your ability to translate schematics into physical designs during interviews
    — “Work with electrical engineering to translate schematics and pinout tables into physical harness architecture
  • Showcase your hands-on experience with electromechanical builds in your application materials
    — “Hands-on build skills: soldering, crimping, and assembling something electromechanical that had to work
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · IndividualLevel · Intern

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

What success looks like

  • model and maintain 3D wire harness routing
  • create 2D harness drawings
  • build prototype harnesses
Typical background
currently enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related program

Skills & requirements

Required

3D CADEngineering DrawingsElectrical SchematicsHands-on Build SkillsDetail Orientation

Preferred

Experience With 3dexperience/catiaKnowledge Of GD&T

Stack & domain

3D CADSolderingCrimpingMechanical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMechatronics

About the role

Original posting from Mindrobotics via Ashby

ABOUT MIND

Mind Robotics is building Physical AI for real-world industrial deployment, starting with the factory floor. We believe the hardest problems in AI are solved when researchers and engineers are hands-on with the physical world every day - and we're looking for people who are passionate about robotics, value ownership, and are excited to tackle difficult problems. Join us if you want to move beyond digital intelligence and put intelligence into motion.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Hardware Engineering Intern at Mind Robotics, you’re an active contributor, not an observer. Embedded directly alongside our senior hardware engineers, you will drive critical components of our roadmap with clear, high-visibility milestones. You'll get your hands dirty, solve complex physical systems problems, and see your work built directly into the robot.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Model and maintain 3D wire harness routing in 3DEXPERIENCE/CATIA within system-level robot assemblies — clearances, service loops, tie-down and clamp locations
  • Create 2D harness drawings and flattened formboard layouts, including wire run lists, connector tables, detail views, and general notes
  • Select connectors, contacts, backshells, strain reliefs, grommets, and sleeving; build and maintain the associated BOMs
  • Work with electrical engineering to translate schematics and pinout tables into physical harness architecture
  • Apply routing rules: minimum bend radius, shield termination, power/signal separation, abrasion protection, and strain relief at every breakout
  • Build prototype harnesses on the board — cut, strip, crimp, terminate shields, apply sleeving and heat shrink — then continuity- and pinout-test everything before it goes on a robot
  • Install harnesses into robot assemblies and drive what you learn back into the model and drawing: interference, insufficient slack, connectors you can’t reach with a hand tool
  • Package DFM/RFQ documentation for harness suppliers and contract manufacturers, and help resolve their feedback
  • Maintain revision control and release documentation in our PLM system

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Currently enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related program
  • Working proficiency in 3D CAD at the assembly level, not just part modeling. We run 3DEXPERIENCE/CATIA — solid SolidWorks, Creo, or NX experience transfers fine
  • Ability to read and produce clear engineering drawings; working knowledge of GD&T and dimensioning conventions
  • Comfort reading electrical schematics, block diagrams, and pinout tables
  • Hands-on build skills: soldering, crimping, and assembling something electromechanical that had to work. Project team wiring counts — FSAE, Baja, robotics competition, rocketry, UAV, or serious personal builds
  • Detail orientation. A transposed pin number in a run list becomes a failed build
  • You are comfortable with ambiguity, move fast, and have an “engineering curiosity” that drives you to understand how the entire system works, not just your part

Source: Mindrobotics careers (Ashby)

Similar roles