Path Robotics

Autonomous robotic welding systems provider

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Design EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeColumbus, OH, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 7 years of experience in robotics, automation, or industrial hardware development, with systems deployed in the real world.
A track record of leading the technical direction of a hardware product or subsystem from concept through deployment.
Deep experience designing end-of-arm tooling, grippers, or sensor-integrated robotic payloads.
Strong understanding of how mechanical design affects sensor calibration and performance.
Experience defining interfaces in electromechanical systems, including connectors, cabling, tool changers, and communication protocols.
Familiarity with imitation or demonstration-based learning and how data collection design affects model results.
Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent computer-aided design with product data management-based release workflows.
Ability to comply with U.S. export control regulations, which may include meeting the definition of a U.S. Person where required.
Ability to adhere to company and federal data protection and confidentiality standards when handling Controlled Unclassified Information.

Responsibilities

Own the technical roadmap for sensing end-of-arm tooling, physical interfaces, and training task design.
Translate product goals and model training needs into hardware requirements and interface specifications.
Lead design reviews and set standards for robustness, serviceability, and manufacturability.
Identify technical risks early and resolve them before they reach the field.
Lead the design of end-of-arm tooling that integrates cameras, 3D, force/torque, tactile, and proximity sensors.
Define sensor placement, calibration, and mounting to maintain accuracy under vibration, heat, spatter, dust, and repeated contact.
Drive tooling from concept through production release.
Define mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces between robots, tools, tool changers, sensors, fixtures, and workpieces.
Establish standards that enable tools and sensors to be swapped, serviced, and reused across platforms.
Align physical interfaces with hardware abstraction, calibration, and control architecture.
Design the tasks, fixtures, parts, and environments used to collect demonstration and training data.
Define task variation, difficulty, and success criteria that represent real industrial work.
Partner with machine learning engineers to connect task design to model performance.
Own the full lifecycle, including requirements, design, prototyping, validation, deployment, and improvement.
Align hardware with product goals across mechanical, electrical, software, and machine learning teams.
Mentor engineers and develop sound engineering judgment across the team.
Work with vendors, suppliers, and the shop to turn designs into hardware quickly.
Drive root cause analysis and design improvements based on field and reliability data.

Build the Path Forward

At Path Robotics, we’re building the future of embodied intelligence. Our AI-driven systems enable robots to adapt, learn, and perform in the real world closing the skilled labor gap and transforming industries. We go beyond traditional methods, combining perception, reasoning, and control to deliver field-ready AI that is risk-aware, reliable, and continuously improving through real-world use.

Big, hard problems are our everyday work, and our team of intelligent, humble, and driven people make the impossible possible together

We're looking for a Technical Lead to guide our team's contribution to Path's manipulation products as we expand from autonomous welding into factory automation. On our Sensing and Embodied Intelligence team, you'll set direction for sensing end-of-arm tooling, the physical interfaces between robots, tools, sensors, and parts, and the tasks we design to train manipulation models.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll define architecture, make the hard tradeoff calls and build hardware yourself.

What You'll Do

Technical Direction

Own the technical roadmap for sensing end-of-arm tooling, physical interfaces, and training task design
Translate product goals and model training needs into hardware requirements and interface specifications
Lead design reviews and set standards for robustness, serviceability, and manufacturability
Identify technical risks early and retire them before they reach the field

Sensing End-of-Arm Tooling

Lead the design of end-of-arm tooling that integrates cameras, 3D, force/torque, tactile, and proximity sensors
Define sensor placement, calibration, and mounting that hold accuracy under vibration, heat, spatter, dust, and repeated contact
Drive tooling from concept through production release

Physical Interfaces

Define mechanical, electrical, and data interfaces between robots, tools, tool changers, sensors, fixtures, and workpieces
Establish standards that let tools and sensors be swapped, serviced, and reused across platforms
Align physical interfaces with hardware abstraction, calibration, and control architecture

Task Design for Model Training

Design the tasks, fixtures, parts, and environments used to collect demonstration and training data
Define task variation, difficulty, and success criteria that represent real industrial work
Partner with ML engineers to connect task design to model performance

How You Deliver

Own the full lifecycle — requirements, design, prototyping, validation, deployment, and improvement
Align hardware with product goals across mechanical, electrical, software, and ML teams
Mentor engineers and build sound engineering judgment across the team
Work with vendors, suppliers, and our shop to turn designs into hardware — fast
Drive root cause analysis and design improvements from field and reliability data

What We're Looking For

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or a related field, or equivalent experience
7+ years in robotics, automation, or industrial hardware development, with systems deployed in the real world
A track record leading the technical direction of a hardware product or subsystem from concept through deployment
Deep experience designing end-of-arm tooling, grippers, or sensor-integrated robotic payloads
Strong grasp of how mechanical design affects sensor calibration and performance
Experience defining interfaces in electromechanical systems: connectors, cabling, tool changers, and communication protocols
Familiarity with imitation or demonstration-based learning and how data collection design affects model results
Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD with PDM-based release workflows

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Competitive salary and equity in a well-funded, high-growth robotics company
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
401(k)
Flexible PTO
Hands-on, collaborative culture

Who We Are

At Path Robotics we love coming to work to solve interesting and tough challenges but also because our ideas are welcomed and valued. We encourage unique thinking and are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process or any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected]m. We are committed to providing equal access and will work with qualified individuals to ensure a fair and accessible hiring experience. We will respond to your request within 48 hours.

Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

This position may support work performed under U.S. Government contracts and requires compliance with applicable federal regulations, including FAR and DFARS where applicable.

The role may involve access to export-controlled information subject to ITAR and/or EAR.

Candidates must be able to comply with U.S. export control regulations, which may include meeting the definition of a “U.S. Person” where required.

This position may also involve handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and requires adherence to company and federal data protection and confidentiality standards. Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check consistent with applicable requirements

About the Company

Path Robotics

Autonomous robotic welding systems provider

Path Robotics builds autonomous robotic welding systems for manufacturers. Its welding cells run on Obsidian, a physical AI model for welding trained inside the Weld World Model, a neural network simulator created from tens of millions of welded inches of fleet weld data. Cameras and lasers around the torch scan each part, identify seams, plan weld paths, and adapt in real time to part variation and imperfect fits, with no programming required by the user. The product line includes the AW-3 cell for large parts, the AF-1 cell that autonomously picks, fits up and welds small parts, and Rove, a mobile welding robot. Customers are fabricators and manufacturers with high-mix production, with focus on defense and shipbuilding, utility and energy infrastructure, and data center structures. Path offers its cells as robots-as-a-service with no upfront capex, a recurring fee, and 24/7 remote mission control support.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: Series E
Total funding: $589.7M
Headquarters: Columbus, OH
Founded: 2014

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