Actuation Engineer, Motor Design

Department: Hardware Engineering

Location: Palo Alto

Employment Type: FullTime

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 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 equivalent experience.

• 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.