Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Compensation: $120,000 - $180,000 / year

Department: Engineering

Location: Louisville, CO

Stratom, Inc. is a mission‑driven engineering company building autonomous and unmanned off‑highway vehicles and related robotic systems. Our systems operate in demanding real‑world environments, where performance, reliability, and engineering discipline are essential. We integrate advanced autonomy with rugged industrial hardware for austere conditions.

Our work spans the full lifecycle of complex systems, from early concept and prototyping through fielded deployment. With multiple working prototypes in hand, we are transitioning these platforms into production to deliver capable systems  are looking for talented and experienced engineers who want to take ownership of hard problems and play a key role in bringing multiple platforms into production.

This role is intended for a senior mechanical engineer comfortable operating across concept development, detailed design, hands‑on build, and production transition. You will work on rugged robotic and ground vehicle systems where mechanical design decisions directly impact system performance, reliability, manufacturability, and field supportability.

The successful candidate will take ownership of mechanical subsystems from early trade studies through prototype build, testing, refinement, and eventual production release. This includes designing components and assemblies, supporting fabrication and assembly, resolving integration issues, and collaborating closely with electrical, software, and systems engineers. As Stratom transitions multiple platforms from prototype to production, this role will shape designs that are functional, repeatable, supportable, and suitable for deployment at scale.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

General Design: Competency in developing:

• Simplest form of functional designs
• Sheet metal structures
• Welded structures
• Machined components from billet materials
• Selection of discrete hardware such as roller bearings, O‑rings, fasteners, etc.
• Designs optimized for prototyping or production as required
• Specification, analysis, and selection of hydraulic components, including motors, pumps, cylinders, valves, plumbing, etc.

Ground Vehicle Design: Competency in developing:

• Light‑weight, high‑strength chassis structures
• Specifications for and integration of motive power sources, such as diesel/gasoline engines, electric motors/generators, etc.
• Specifications for and integration of power transmission components, mechanical and/or hydraulic

Materials: Ability to select appropriate base materials, heat treatments, and finishes for outdoor and corrosion‑prone environments.

Solid Works CAD modeling and drafting: Competency in:

• Translating concepts to functional 3D CAD models and engineering drawings
• Analyzing tolerance stack‑up of assemblies
• Generating GD&T for fabrication, inspection, and fixturing of components
• Generating weld callouts

Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Competency in:

• Selecting representative restraint systems
• Understanding design load scenarios and translating them to computer‑model loading
• Incorporating factor‑of‑safety and fatigue concerns appropriate to design and loading scenarios
• Simplifying models for FEA
• Structuring multi‑body models with proper mates/connections

Assembly: Competency in:

• Using basic hand tools
• Assembling components professionally
• Inspecting parts against engineering drawings with standard tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, etc.
• Reworking or specifying rework of non‑conforming components
• Soldering
• Reading and wiring from a schematic
• Troubleshooting mechanical and electrical systems

Testing and Validation: Competency in:

• Writing performance requirements
• Developing test plans
• Executing and documenting testing of prototype equipment

Preferred Technical

Competencies:

• Ability to conceptualize architecture of ground vehicle and robotic arm systems
• Design of casted and/or forged components
• Design of thermal management systems for machinery and electronics
• Design for EMI mitigation
• Design of electrical enclosures
• Architecture of control systems and specifications of…