Founding Mechanical Engineer

Company Description Heavy infrastructure cannot be built fast enough to fulfill the promises of American reindustrialization. With labor availability tightening and the workforce aging, construction faces a multi-trillion-dollar execution gap over the next decade. Backed by Founders Fund and others, the team is developing robots for outdoor, high-payload job site work with a focus on immediate deployment and autonomy that delivers value immediately. We’re partnering with the largest heavy construction firms to put robots on sites immediately, building hardware, data, and commercial moats to bring end-to-end autonomy to construction. We are looking for a Founding Mechanical Engineer specializing in design, test, and deployment to build out Strata’s v1 robot, helping to transform prototypes into reliable, scalable hardware systems for manufacturing and field deployment. Key Responsibilities Own subsystems end-to-end — from concept, sizing, and analysis through drawings, vendor sourcing, build, test, and field deployment — working closely with the CTO, and founding electromechanical team. Define and satisfy mechanical requirements for a robot that operates in rugged, dirty, hazardous environments and carries multi-ton loads. Perform first-principles hand calculations and finite element analysis to size structures, mechanisms, and hydraulic components (cylinders, valves, pumps) under real-world loading. Run motion studies, interference/clearance checks, load path analysis, and tolerance stack-ups to validate design intent before parts are cut. Apply design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly principles, and stay hands-on through first builds to catch and fix issues early. Partner with external vendors and manufacturers to source parts, manage quotes and purchase orders, and build out early supply chain relationships. Create manufacturing, welding, and assembly drawings using GD&T per ASME Y14.5. Develop and execute hardware test plans spanning functional, environmental, and qualification testing. Define hardware success criteria with customers and support the robot through pilot deployment in the field. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. 3+ years designing, building, and testing complex hardware systems. Preferred Skills and Experience Experience with rugged, high-payload hardware — heavy equipment, off-road vehicles, aerospace structures, or industrial machinery. Hands-on experience with hydraulic or fluid power systems (cylinders, valves, pumps, manifolds). Proficiency in CAD and GD&T; experience with Siemens NX preferred. Strong grounding in hand calculations and FEA, with the judgment to know when each is warranted. Personal experience physically manufacturing hardware (machining, fabrication, welding, soldering, assembly, etc.). Track record of writing and executing system test plans efficiently within fast-paced development timelines. Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment with high ownership and fast iteration. #J-18808-Ljbffr Socket.dev