---
title: 'Senior Design Engineer - Electromagnetic (R&D) at Apptronik'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-design-engineer-electromagnetic-r-d-apptronik-austin-92q30vmm0nm2'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Senior Design Engineer - Electromagnetic (R&D) at Apptronik

- **Company:** Apptronik
- **Location:** Austin, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-10-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/apptronik/jobs/6239334004?gh_jid=6239334004

## Job description

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered robots to support humanity in every facet of life. Our flagship humanoid robot, Apollo, is built to collaborate thoughtfully with people, starting with critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond.

We operate at the cutting edge of Applied AI, applying our expertise across the full robotics stack to solve some of society's most important problems. You will join a team dedicated to bringing Apollo to market at scale, tackling the complex challenges like safety, commercialization, and mass production to change the world for the better.

## JOB SUMMARY

At Apptronik, we are building the next generation of general-purpose humanoid robots designed to change the way we live and work. To achieve unparalleled performance in our robotic platforms, we are expanding our R&D efforts into advanced, custom motor technologies.

Off-the-shelf frameless motors leave significant performance on the table for humanoid robots. As a electromagnetic designer for Apptronik's custom motor program, you will be the driving force behind our next generation of actuators. You will set the target metrics and design the motors to hit them, exploring cutting-edge technologies to maximize performance while ensuring these designs remain viable for mass manufacturing.

In addition to serving as the lead hands-on EM designer, you will act as our primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) when collaborating with external partners, university collaborators, and specialized manufacturing vendors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES or KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Custom Electromagnetic Design & Simulation

- 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 (using Ansys Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or Altair Flux) to maximize performance.
- Define the trade space between motor, thermal, and robot-level requirements.

Testing, Validation & Characterization

- Specify test requirements and oversee the methodology for characterizing internally developed motors against competing off-the-shelf designs.
- Utilize a motor dyno to close the loop between simulation and hardware, correlating model-to-test data and validating EM simulations empirically.

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Cross-Functional Integration

- Bridge the gap between R&D and production. Ensure that highly optimized, novel motor designs can scale efficiently to mass manufacturing without compromising performance.
- Collaborate tightly with mechanical, thermal, electrical, and control engineers to integrate custom motors into the broader robotic joint and system architecture (accounting for drive interaction, FOC, and inverter limits).

External Partnerships

- Act as the technical lead and SME in discussions with external motor design companies, suppliers, and university collaborators.
- Evaluate external proposals, drive technical requirements, ensure successful tech transfer, and audit alternative supply chains (such as US-sourced magnet materials).

## SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

## Minimum Qualifications

- Education: MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering (electric machines), Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Experience: 5+ years of industry experience designing electric machines for high-performance applications (preferably in robotics, aerospace, or automotive/EV sectors).
- Tool Mastery: Expert-level, hands-on experience with electromagnetic design and simulation software (Ansys Maxwell/Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar) and analytical motor modeling.
- Technical Depth: Exceptional understanding of motor fundamentals, winding theory, magnetic materials, thermal coupling, and the trade-offs involved in maximizing torque density.
- Manufacturing Knowledge: Proven track record of designing motors that have successfully transitioned from the prototype phase to volume manufacturing.
- Qualities: Deep technical credibility, a passion for mentoring others, and a true "experimentalist" mindset who thrives on building a new capability from scratch and validating models against hardware.

## Preferred Qualifications

- 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.

*This is a direct hire.  Please, no outside Agency solicitations.

Apptronik provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

## About Apptronik

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Apptronik builds advanced humanoid robots for real-world industrial applications, starting with manufacturing and warehousing, to address labor shortages and improve human productivity.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Funding Stage: Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Founded as a spinout from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin; leadership includes CEO Jeff Cardenas and CTO Nicholas Paine

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Robot Manufacturing, Humanoid Robotics, Industrial Automation, Artificial Intelligence
- Target customers: B2B / Enterprise — manufacturing facilities, warehousing and logistics operators, supply chain organizations
- Mission or purpose statement: “It is not Man vs. Machine, but Man + Machine” — building robots that empower humans to live to their fullest potential by solving labor shortages and reducing physical strain.

## Products & Services
- **[Apollo Humanoid Robot Platform]**: A full-electric, bipedal humanoid robot designed for industrial use. Combines advanced hardware, embodied AI, and fleet-level management software. Current applications include material handling, line-side tasks, palletizing, case picking, trailer unloading, and inspection. Built as a scalable platform that can extend into healthcare, eldercare, and home environments over time. (Type: Hardware + SaaS Platform)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Annual Revenue**: ~$3.5 million (estimated)
- **Total Funding**: ~$963.8 million (includes a Seed Round of $14.6M in 2022, a Corporate Round in 2025, and an undisclosed Series A round; notable investors include Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Google)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Google, Terex, Humanoid Global
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 98.1% year-over-year to 334 employees (2026 data). Named to the **2026 CNBC Disruptor 50** list. Recognized on the **Best Places to Work** list (2024, 2025). Won the **2025 IEEE Robotics & Automation Product Innovation Award**. Named **Most Innovative** (2025). Active job postings increased 238.5% year-over-year (88 open roles). Acquired Elevate Robotics Inc.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep heritage**: Spun out of UT Austin’s Human Centered Robotics Lab; team dates back to the DARPA Robotics Challenge (2015) and includes ex-NASA collaborators.
- **Full-stack vertical integration**: Covers hardware, embodied AI, and fleet-level management software — a complete, scalable platform rather than a one-off robot.
- **Safe, human-centric design**: Built for human environments from the ground up, with a focus on reducing physical strain and complementing human workers, not replacing them.
- **Early enterprise traction**: Active partnerships with major industrial players like Mercedes-Benz and Terex, proving real-world deployment over lab demos.

## Strategic Focus
- Scaling Apollo for manufacturing and warehouse deployment (current core market).
- Expanding into more complex environments: construction, healthcare, eldercare, and the home.
- Continuous hardware and software upgrades (CEO Jeff Cardenas calls humanoid robotics “the space race of our time” and has signaled major upgrades to Apollo).
- Building out fleet-level tools for multi-robot management and learning.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Work on the frontier of humanoid robotics with a stated ethos of “Man + Machine” — robots that improve human quality of life.
- **High-growth environment**: Doubled headcount year-over-year with massive funding and expanding job postings; strong career growth potential.
- **Culture values**: Passion, creativity, collaboration, integrity, curiosity, and humility are explicitly stated as core values.
- **Perks & Benefits**:
  - Flexible PTO (open, unlimited)
  - 401k retirement plan
  - Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
  - Parental leave
  - Flexible work hours
  - Collaborative and innovative work environment
- **Remote/Hybrid Policy**: Not explicitly stated; 77% of workforce is in the United States (majority in Austin HQ). Specific roles may vary, but the company promotes a collaborative environment.
- **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from top robotics and tech companies — SpaceX, Tesla, Fox Robotics, Agility Robotics, Apple, iRobot, Neocis, and top universities (UT Austin).
- **Employee rating**: 3.9/5.0 on employer reviews (Work-Life: 3.5, Career: 3.7).

## Sources
1. [apptronik.com](https://apptronik.com/) — Company homepage
2. [apptronik.com/about-us](https://apptronik.com/about-us) — About Us / History / Mission
3. [apptronik.com/careers](https://apptronik.com/careers?gh_src=B+Capital+job+board) — Careers page / Perks & Culture
4. [apptronik.com/careers/job-listings](https://apptronik.com/careers/job-listings) — Open job listings
5. [linkedin.com/company/apptronik-inc.](https://www.linkedin.com/company/apptronik-inc.) — LinkedIn company profile (revenue, headcount, funding, employee breakdown)

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