Lead Thermal Simulation Engineer

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San Francisco On-site Full-time Lead $423k – $485k/yr 3 weeks ago

About the role

Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings. Working across the entire model stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the constraints of physical systems to improve people's lives.

About the Role

We are seeking a lead thermal simulation engineer to help accelerate the design and development of next-generation robotic systems through modeling, simulation, and analysis. You will work closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, and robotics engineers to evaluate designs before hardware is built, identify risks early, and guide critical architecture decisions.

This role spans structural and thermal analysis and design across robotic subsystems including actuators, mechanisms, structures, electronics, and integrated systems. You will develop simulation workflows that improve engineering velocity, increase confidence in design decisions, and help us build more capable, reliable, and manufacturable robotic platforms.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. This role will be expected to be in office 4 days per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

Perform thermal simulations to assess heat generation, cooling strategies, thermal interfaces, and system-level thermal performance

Partner with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers to influence design decisions early in development

Build simulation models to evaluate robotic actuators, transmissions, mechanisms, structures, soft goods, and integrated assemblies

Correlate simulation results with physical testing and develop methodologies to improve model accuracy

Support architecture trade studies by evaluating design concepts before hardware is built

Develop simulation workflows, standards, and best practices that scale across the robotics organization

Identify technical risks and recommend design changes to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability

Support root cause investigations by combining test data, failure analysis, and simulation results

Contribute to long-term simulation capabilities including multiphysics modeling, digital twins, and system-level analysis

Enjoy using first-principles engineering and simulation to solve complex multidisciplinary problems

Are comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where simulation and design helps guide architecture decisions rather than simply validate finished designs

Have strong intuition for mechanical systems and can connect simulation results to real-world hardware behavior

Balance modeling rigor with practical engineering judgment and development speed

Enjoy collaborating closely with hardware teams and influencing products from concept through deployment

Experience performing thermal simulation and design of complex electromechanical systems

Proficiency with commercial CAE tools such as Simcenter 3D, Abaqus, Ansys, Nastran, LS-DYNA, COMSOL, or equivalent platforms

Experience correlating simulation models with physical test data and validation campaigns for high volume products

Familiarity with robotic systems, actuators, mechanisms, power electronics, batteries, or other highly integrated hardware systems

Experience developing simulation methodologies, automation tools, or organization-wide thermal workflows

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