Advanced Development Engineer - Mechanical

Description

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 600 passionate team members.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a talented and innovative Mechanical Engineer to join our dynamic Innovation Engineering team at Whisker, a leader in connected pet care products and services. In this role, you will play a key part in shaping the future of connected pet care by developing cutting-edge mechanical and mechatronic devices that are well ahead of market trends.

Summary:

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including firmware and electrical engineers, product managers, and designers, to explore new and novel pet care devices. Your expertise in mechatronics and creative mechanical design will help bring advanced concepts to life, enabling us to create next-generation products that deliver exceptional user experiences and improve the well-being of pets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Researches, develops, rapidly prototypes, and optimizes systems and mechanisms for connected pet care products, including actuators, motors, gear systems, and drive mechanisms that support automated product features.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure designs integrate smoothly with other subsystems, including sensors, electronics, and wireless communication technologies.
• Conducts feasibility studies and simulations to determine the optimal designs for specific product applications.
• Defines and performs robust testing to ensure concepts meet performance requirements.
• Selects appropriate materials to balance strength, weight, and cost while ensuring longevity and durability.
• Designs and tests prototypes, iterating daily based on testing feedback to improve performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Develops detailed CAD models and technical drawings of motorized systems, including mechanical linkages, enclosures, and housings for integration with other product components.
• Works closely with manufacturing and sourcing teams to ensure that designs have a line of sight to scalable and cost-effective high-volume production.
• Stays updated on the latest advancements in motor technology, sensing, automation, and motion control systems to incorporate innovative solutions into new products.
• Contributes to product documentation, including design specifications, testing procedures, and troubleshooting guides to support product development and production teams.
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required 

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in mechanical design and development, ideally in consumer electronics, IoT devices, or similar product areas.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks or Creo) and 3D modeling.
• Experience with mechanical prototyping, rapid prototyping methods (e.g., 3D printing, CNC machining), and testing.
• Knowledge of materials science and experience selecting materials for performance, durability, and manufacturability.
• Understanding of design for assembly (DFA), design for manufacturability (DFM), and design for testing (DFT) principles.
• Ability to analyze and optimize mechanical systems for factors such as weight, cost, thermal management, and environmental durability.
• Experience with integrating mechanical systems with electrical, motor, and sensor technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a focus on innovative solutions that balance form, function, and cost.
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs) 

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• VEX, BEST, PLTW, OCCRA, Combat Robotics, Robofest, FIRST or other design/build challenge experience, Including home projects.
• Not required to have pets, but highly recommended!
• Knowledge of Injection molded plastics, sheet metal and other similar manufacturing processes
• Working knowledge of GD&T and component sourcing
• Comfortable with surface and top-down master modeling techniques
• Experience in designing products for consumer health or pet care markets.
• Basic understanding of electrical and firmware design
• Project management experience

Benefits & Purrks: 

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance Discount
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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