Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Croatia
About us
At Gideon, we're crafting the future of logistics, manufacturing & other industrial environments with cutting-edge AI and 3D vision-based autonomous robots. Our team is committed to automating complex operations, allowing people to shine in what they do best.
If you're ready to join us and be part of this journey, read on!
Our team consists of 100+ super-talented people, including top-notch experts in the field of hardware and software engineering, and is devoted to developing robots with a mission of making people's work easier.
We are an ambitious group of tech enthusiasts with different backgrounds, skills, and experiences, very excited and passionate about what we do! And above all, we cherish team spirit, constant learning and kindness. There is much more to learn, so we hope this piqued your curiosity!
About the role
As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you'll be a core contributor to the mechanical engineering team responsible for the design, validation, and continuous improvement of Gideon's robotic systems. You'll own subsystems end-to-end - from early concept sketches through production release - and work closely with electrical engineers, software teams, and operations to ensure the hardware performs reliably in the real world.
This is a hands-on role. You'll be expected to design with manufacturing in mind, validate your assumptions through analysis and testing, and iterate quickly when field data demands it. The problems are hard, the environment is demanding, and the stakes are real.
Responsibilities we’ll trust you with:
- Mechanical system design - lead the design of key subsystems on the autonomous forklift platform either from scratch or through modifications of existing design
- Architectural ownership - contribute to the long-term hardware roadmap and make high-level architectural decisions that balance cost, performance, and serviceability
- Full design cycle execution - drive concepts from ideation through design, detailed CAD, tolerance analysis, DFM review, and production-ready documentation
- Structural and functional validation - perform or oversee FEA, hand calculations, and physical testing to validate designs meet load, fatigue, stability, and safety requirements
- Sensor and hardware integration - design precise mounting solutions for cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, and other perception hardware; ensure structural rigidity, vibration isolation, and alignment under operational loads
- Industrial & robust design principles - apply deep understanding of operational environment requirements to design for vibration isolation, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and environmental sealing (IP ratings)
- Reliability and serviceability engineering - lead DFMEA and define validation protocols for fatigue, thermal, and vibration; ensure the platform is designed for High Availability, prioritizing ease of maintenance and modular replacement for field technicians
- Manufacturing and supplier collaboration - define manufacturing requirements, work with suppliers and contract manufacturers on fabrication feasibility, lead DFM/DFA reviews, and manage ECOs through production
- Documentation and data management - maintain accurate and complete CAD assemblies, BOMs, drawings, engineering change records and design review tickets
- Cross-functional collaboration - partner daily with electrical engineers, software and controls engineers, and product designers; actively participate in design reviews, failure analyses, and build readiness assessments
- Mentorship - provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level engineers; help raise the bar on design quality and engineering rigor across the team
Your area of expertise:
- 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience in a product development environment, ideally in industrial equipment, robotics, or automation
- Master's degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field
- Proficiency in 3D CAD (Autodesk Inventor) - you should be fast, structured, and consistent in how you build assemblies and manage configurations
- Strong understanding of structural design principles, mechanism design, and machine elements (fasteners, bearings, gears, actuators, seals)
- Experience performing calculations and FEA for structural and fatigue analysis, together with stability calculations
- Working knowledge of drawing design principles and the ability to create clear, complete manufacturing and assembly drawings
- Strong experience designing welded structures and load-bearing assemblies for industrial equipment, mobile machinery, robotics, or similar heavy-duty applications
- Experience managing components through a full product development lifecycle - from prototype to production release - self sustainable
- Clear, concise technical communication in English - written and verbal - with both engineers and non-engineers
Bonus points:
- Direct experience with material handling equipment, industrial vehicles, or heavy-duty mobile robotics (forklifts, AGVs, AMRs, construction equipment)
- Experience designing hydraulic systems or electro-hydraulic actuator packages
- Familiarity with electric drivetrain components: motors, gearboxes, inverters, battery systems, and their mechanical integration requirements
- Hands-on experience with fabrication techniques: CNC milling/turning, welding, sheet metal forming
- Experience with sensor mounting and integration for perception systems relevant for robotic applications (cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic)
- Working knowledge of relevant safety and compliance standards (ANSI B56, ISO 3691, CE/UKCA marking for industrial machinery)
- Prototyping skills - comfortable working in a shop environment, building and modifying hardware yourself when speed matters
Steps in the selection process:
Introduction
Tell us about your experiences and interests, and we will tell you more about the position, about our team and Gideon as a whole. We cherish the individual approach to every candidate and we are always curious to hear how we fit into your plans!
Technical Assessment
This stage will show you how the actual job will look like and how you fit in. You will get an insight into technical details by completing the technical task and discussion with one of our senior experts.
Final interview
The final step is a more in-depth conversation where you will get a full picture of how your work in Gideon would look like and what kind of culture we cherish.
Offer!
If all goes well, this is when we send you the offer with the information and details about compensation, vacation policy, benefits plan and all the other working details.