Senior Design Engineer - Electromagnetic (R&D)

The role

You will design custom BLDC/PMSM motors for humanoid joints from concept to prototype. You will perform electromagnetic simulations, oversee testing and validation, and ensure designs are viable for mass manufacturing.

What you will do

• Own the electromagnetic design of custom BLDC/PMSM motors for humanoid joints from concept to built prototype.
• Select and evaluate advanced topologies and approaches.
• Run advanced EM simulations to maximize performance.
• Define the trade space between motor, thermal, and robot-level requirements.
• Specify test requirements and oversee methodology for characterizing motors.
• Utilize a motor dyno to correlate model-to-test data and validate simulations.
• Ensure novel motor designs can scale to mass manufacturing.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and control engineers.
• Act as the technical lead and SME in discussions with external partners and suppliers.
• Evaluate external proposals and audit alternative supply chains.

Required qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering (electric machines), Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of industry experience designing electric machines for high-performance applications.
• Expert-level, hands-on experience with electromagnetic design and simulation software (Ansys Maxwell/Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar) and analytical motor modeling.
• Exceptional understanding of motor fundamentals, winding theory, magnetic materials, thermal coupling, and torque density trade-offs.
• Proven track record of designing motors that have successfully transitioned from the prototype phase to volume manufacturing.
• Deep technical credibility, a passion for mentoring others, and an experimentalist mindset.

Nice to have

• Experience with specialized or novel motor topologies (e.g., axial flux, transverse flux, frameless outrunner designs).
• Familiarity with the unique constraints of robotics (e.g., highly dynamic loads, tight packaging constraints, low gearing ratios, and strict thermal limits).
• MATLAB/Python scripting experience for design optimization and workflow automation.
• Strong vendor management experience, having successfully audited and collaborated with overseas or domestic motor manufacturers.

About the company

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity. Their flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate with people in industries such as manufacturing and logistics.