Full-Time
Motor/Actuator Design Engineer
Western Magnetics
1-10 employees
U.S. drone motors and actuators manufacturer
No salary listed
No H1B Sponsorship
South San Francisco, CA, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
 Mechanical Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- A bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field is required.
- At least 3 years of experience in motor or actuator design is required, preferably in drone, robotics, or aerospace industries.
- Strong knowledge of electric motor theory, including electromagnetic design, thermal management, and mechanical design, is required.
- Proficiency with motor design and simulation software such as FEMM or ANSYS Maxwell, or equivalent tools, is required.
- Experience with mechanical design computer-aided design tools such as SolidWorks or CATIA is required.
- The ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams is required.
- Authorized to work in the United States is required.
- Design and optimize motor and actuator architectures for drone and robotic applications.
- Develop detailed motor design specifications covering electrical, mechanical, and thermal considerations.
- Simulate and analyze motor performance using relevant software tools.
- Work cross-functionally with Field Applications Engineers, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility and manufacturability.
- Support prototyping, testing, and validation of new motor designs and contribute to continuous product improvements.
- Document design processes, test results, and design revisions.
- Stay current on emerging technologies and industry trends in motor and actuator design.
- Experience designing brushless direct-current motors, actuators, or similar electromechanical devices.
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes for motor components and assemblies.
- Hands-on experience with prototype testing and validation.
- Familiarity with drone or robotics industry requirements and standards.
Westmag designs and manufactures drone motors and robot actuators in the United States, starting with Factory 01 in South San Francisco. It automates winding, assembly, and testing on an integrated production platform to produce core motion components—the “muscle” of physical AI—for drones, humanoid robots, and other autonomous systems. The company differentiates itself by onshoring production and vertically integrating design, manufacturing, and the supply chain, including upstream subcomponents, to reduce dependence on foreign parts and improve cost control. Its goal is to scale production to hundreds of thousands to millions of motors and actuators annually for domestic and allied customers, while expanding a standardized product catalog for both high- and low-volume buyers.
Company Size
1-10
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$11M
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2025
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- June 2026 seed funding from a16z, Founders Fund, Lux, NFDG, and Menlo de-risks hiring.
- Westmag reports production already ramping against committed orders for hundreds of thousands of units.
- U.S. drone and robotics buyers want domestic suppliers after supply shocks and export-control uncertainty.
What critics are saying
- China still controls rare-earth magnet refining and production, exposing Westmag's bill of materials.
- Hundreds of thousands of committed units create execution risk if Factory 01 misses ramp targets.
- A defense procurement slowdown would cripple demand before Westmag reaches millions of annual units.
What makes Western Magnetics unique
- Factory 01 in South San Francisco vertically integrates design, winding, assembly, and validation.
- Westmag targets domestic drone motors and actuators, a hard U.S. supply-chain niche.
- Its leadership claims immediate business concentrates on high-volume drone customers, not commodity hardware.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Company News
Westmag emerges with $11 million seed led by Andreessen Horowitz to build america's drone motor and robot actuator industry. SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Westmag, the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, emerged from stealth today with $11 million in seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Founders Fund, Lux Capital, NFDG, Menlo Ventures, and other top investors. Westmag, short for Western Magnetics Company, closed this $11M in funding in...
Westmag, the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, emerged from stealth today with $11 million in seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Founders Fund, Lux Capital, NFDG, Menlo Ventures, and other top investors.