Robotics Senior Actuator Design Engineer

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As a Robotics Senior Actuator Design Engineer based in Barcelona, you will sit at the heart of Helsing's robotics engineering function, responsible for driving the mechanical architecture, design, and development of next-generation robotic systems. You will own complex electromechanical systems from concept through to production, ensuring platforms are robust, scalable, and built for real-world deployment. Working closely with electrical, firmware, and software engineers, you will bring both technical depth and cross-functional leadership to a team building some of the most consequential technology in European defence.

The day-to-day:

• Lead the detailed design and integration of complex robotic subsystems, including high-precision actuators, structural chassis, and dynamic motion systems, translating high-level concepts into robust 3D assemblies and comprehensive engineering drawing packages.
• Drive cross-functional integration with electrical and software teams to ensure seamless packaging, cable routing, and thermal and sensor integration, resolving technical challenges across the full development cycle.
• Define material selection strategies and fabrication methods, conducting FEA, stress analysis, and tolerance stack-up analysis to ensure designs meet rigorous functional, cost, yield, and lead-time requirements.
• Establish and advocate for mechanical engineering best practices, including modelling standards, GD&T drawing controls, and technical documentation, raising quality across the team.
• Critically evaluate system architectures in design reviews, identifying risks and delivering high-impact solutions that optimise performance and manufacturability from prototype through to production ramp-up.

You should apply if you:

• Have shipped complex robotic, mechatronic, or automated systems to market, with a verifiable track record of ownership across the full product development cycle.
• Bring expert-level proficiency in 3D CAD modelling, ideally SolidWorks, combined with deep knowledge of GD&T for precision manufacturing environments.
• Have applied structural and thermal FEA, static simulations, and tolerance stack-up analysis to solve real engineering problems in production-grade systems.
• Have worked extensively across diverse manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, injection moulding, sheet metal fabrication, and additive manufacturing, in high-mix or low-to-medium volume environments.
• Communicate complex technical decisions with clarity to cross-functional stakeholders, from firmware engineers to programme leadership, driving alignment without sacrificing rigour.

Nice to Have:

• Experience architecting high-performance, high-power-density actuators and advanced mechatronic systems for legged robotics platforms.
• Background working in agile, small-scale mechanical design teams, with direct experience taking full technical ownership from early concept through to serial production.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and VSOP options
• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation
• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance
• Health & wellness: gym membership and mental health support (Nilo.health)
• Social: regular company events and monthly social allowances
• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
• Family support: 5 days of paid family emergency leave, 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work
• A hands-on onboarding program (affectionately labelled “Infraduction”), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company.