Lead Hardware Design Engineer

Lead Hardware Design Engineer

Somana is a generative robotics company. We founded the company because the incredible advances in the modeling layer have no way to access a fragmented physical world. We're building the connective tissue that brings physical AI into the industrial world.

Somana is a hardware, software, and services platform powering rapid improvements in capacity, throughput, yield, and quality. Our compute platform talks to hundreds of peripherals, living on factory floors and has capabilities that compound after every run - which means the mechanical systems that house, cool, protect, and connect them are as critical as the silicon itself.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As Lead Hardware Design Engineer for Compute, you will own the design strategy and end-to-end execution for a family of compute products. You will take assemblies that currently exist in the space between "works in the lab" and "works at 100 units," internalize them, and productize them for volume. You will lead a team of two sharp HW+ME engineers today and scale the team as the product line grows. You will also serve as the technical voice with customers when a design decision needs to be explained in person.

This is not a narrow bracket-and-housing role. You will own the full electro-mechanical system - thermal, structural, interconnect, and power - and you will work directly with EE’s and firmware engineers to ensure the compute platform ships as a cohesive product, not a collection of parts.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and execute the mechanical design strategy for a family of compute hardware products from prototype through high-volume production

• Own the full electro-mechanical architecture: thermal management, structural housing, electrical interconnect, and power distribution for compute platforms that integrate with hundreds of peripherals and robotic subsystems

• Internalize existing proven assemblies and productize them for manufacturability, cost, reliability, and scale

• Directly lead, mentor, and manage a team of mechanical engineers. Grow the team and the design processes as the product line expands

• Serve as the primary technical interface with internal electrical and firmware engineering teams, ensuring mechanical, electrical, and software constraints are resolved as a unified system

• Represent the compute hardware product line in customer and vendor meetings, translating field feedback into design improvements

• Drive vendor and manufacturing partner selection, DFM/DFA reviews, and the resolution of production issues in real time

• Establish design standards, documentation practices, and review processes appropriate for a team that is moving fast but shipping hardware that has to last

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline

• 5+ years of professional experience designing and shipping electro-mechanical hardware products at volume

• 2+ years of experience leading and managing mechanical, electrical, or firmware engineering teams

• Demonstrated track record of owning a full electro-mechanical system from concept through volume production, not just individual assemblies or subsystems

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Primary experience shipping chip-level or compute hardware at scale, with a clear understanding of what happens when a design moves from DVT to a factory floor building thousands of units

• Background in domains where margins, weight, thermal, and power are non-negotiable: wearables, drones, climate tech, robotics, or similar

• Deep familiarity with thermal management strategies for compute-heavy systems, including passive, active, and liquid cooling approaches

• Proficiency in modern CAD and simulation tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent) and a working knowledge of FEA for structural and thermal analysis

• Working knowledge of industrial design principles and a demonstrated ability to collaborate with ID teams to protect the product intent while hitting cost and manufacturability targets

• Experience with high-reliability connector selection, cable and harness design, and EMI/thermal co-design with electrical layouts

• Direct experience with contract manufacturers, DFM feedback loops, and supply chain negotiation for mechanical components

• Comfort working in a high-concentration, fast-moving environment where priorities shift as the product and the company evolve

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willingness to work hands-on with prototypes and production hardware, including in lab, workshop, and field environments

• Ability to travel occasionally to manufacturing partners, vendor facilities, and customer sites as the product requires

• This is primarily an in-person role with some flexibility

If you've already built a compute or electro-mechanical product line from scratch, shipped it at volume, and you're looking for the kind of ownership and impact that only exists at the earliest stage of a company, we'd love to talk!

LOCATION & COMPENSATION:

• SoHo, New York City

• Competitive salary + meaningful equity - this is a foundational role on a small team

• Catered lunch, snacks, panoramic views, and pet-friendly office

• Health, Dental, Vision benefits + 401k