Gravis Robotics is a high-growth Series A start-up backed by SoftBank, bringing Physical AI to the construction industry, turning heavy construction machines into autonomous robots.
Gravis began as an ETH Zurich spin-out, and our unique combination of learning-based automation and augmented remote control lets one operator safely conduct a fleet of earthmoving machines in a gamified environment.
Backed by deep robotics research and now deployed across multiple countries with leading construction and equipment partners, our team is rapidly growing to bring this technology to a trillion-dollar industry.
What we build
The Gravis RACK is a machine-agnostic retrofit kit that adds autonomy to excavators and wheel loaders from 10 to 100+ tonnes: LiDAR and camera sensing, GNSS RTK, networking hardware and rugged edge compute that works offline. Paired with the Slate tablet and our Copilot software, it lets an operator run a machine manually, with AI assistance, or fully autonomously. Increasingly, we also build custom hardware to adapt our machines for highly specialized, robust applications beyond traditional excavation.
About the role
You'll own mechanical design and validation across both sides of that scope: the sensing and compute hardware that retrofits onto a machine, and the heavy structural tooling that machine works with. You'll also define how we do this work. We're moving from early production into scale-up with a next-generation platform ahead, and our engineering practices are still yours to shape.
What you'll do
Own the mechanical design of core hardware systems — compute enclosures, sensor assemblies, cable management, machine integration components — from concept through production release
Design purpose-built tooling: welded and machined assemblies in high-strength plate steel, and mounting interfaces carrying tens of kN
Drive design decisions with structural analysis — build the load cases including the abusive ones, run the FEA, and turn results into specific design changes
Define our design verification and validation practice: test plans, acceptance criteria, design reviews, and sign-off gates
Release production-ready CAD and drawing packages that hand off cleanly to our production team, contract manufacturers, and fabrication and machining suppliers
Commission hardware on real machines on real sites, and fold what you learn back into the design
Bring structured design methodology into next-generation development from day one, and raise the bar for the team by example
What we're looking for
University degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
You've owned complex electro-mechanical or heavy structural designs end-to-end from concept to validation to production and field support
Strong 3D CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred) with disciplined documentation: assemblies, detailed drawings, BOMs, revision control
Working fluency with FEA, and the judgement to define realistic load cases and know how much confidence a result earns
Experience designing welded and machined steel structures: load paths, plate and grade selection, weld sizing and specification, distortion and machining sequence
Design for harsh outdoor environments: structural and thermal loads, shock and vibration, IP-rated enclosures, material and coating selection, DFM, GD&T
A track record of improving engineering process: introducing design reviews and formalizing test procedures
Comfortable prototyping, testing, and iterating hands-on alongside a small team
A creative problem solver who can leverage experience and engineering firepower towards designs and solutions
Excellent command of English, written and spoken
Beneficial Experience
Hydraulically actuated mobile equipment (cylinders, valves, and auxiliary circuits at working pressures in the hundreds of bar) and electro-hydraulic systems closed around sensor feedback
Welding and weld fabrication in practice: process selection, design for fatigue and distortion, high-strength steels, hands-on work with fabricators
Heavy-duty rugged equipment: construction, mining, agricultural, or off-highway machinery built to survive abuse in the field
Integrating sensors onto moving, high-shock structures, field-of-view trade-offs, slip rings, & harness routing
FEA/CFD for thermal analysis, ISO 9001 or similar QMS experience, robotics or autonomous systems background
