Simbe is looking for a Hardware / Mechanical Engineering Intern to join the team designing, testing, and improving the Tally autonomous robot platform
As an intern, you'll work alongside our Hardware Engineering team and contribute to a meaningful project tied to the team's active priorities. Your specific project will be selected by your hiring manager closer to your start date so that your work directly supports what the team is building at that time
Depending on current priorities, your work may involve areas such as mechanical component design or redesign, DFM/DFA improvements, prototyping, bench testing, reliability improvements, manufacturing support, or early concepts for future generations of the Tally platform
This internship is designed for students who want hands-on experience building physical robotic systems and solving real-world mechanical engineering problems
Work on real robots. Contribute to the mechanical systems behind Tally robots operating every day in live retail environments
Learn production hardware engineering. Gain exposure to design, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, reliability, and field-driven iteration
Contribute to meaningful work. Your project will align with an active team initiative rather than being isolated "intern work."
Own a defined project. You'll be given clear goals and an appropriately scoped problem you can meaningfully contribute to during the internship
Learn from experienced hardware engineers. You'll work directly with Simbe engineers and have a dedicated mentor separate from your hiring manager
See the full product lifecycle. Gain exposure to how design decisions move from concept and CAD through prototypes, testing, manufacturing, and field deployment
Own and contribute to a scoped project aligned with the Hardware team's priorities during your internship
Support mechanical design and redesign work for components and assemblies on the Tally robot platform
Create and update CAD models, drawings, and related design documentation
Build and evaluate prototypes using appropriate fabrication and prototyping methods
Conduct bench testing, collect data, document results, and help identify design improvements
Support design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly efforts based on field, reliability, or manufacturing feedback
Assist with root-cause analysis of mechanical issues and evaluate potential design changes
Collaborate with engineers across Hardware, Robot Software, Manufacturing, Operations, and other technical teams
Communicate progress, technical decisions, tradeoffs, challenges, and results throughout the internship
Present your project, approach, results, and key learnings at the end of the program
Interns join Simbe as part of a structured cohort and work full time from our Burlingame, California headquarters
Each intern will have a defined technical project aligned with current team priorities, a hiring manager responsible for project scope, performance, and feedback, a dedicated mentor separate from the hiring manager, structured midpoint feedback, regular opportunities to collaborate with and learn from Simbe engineers, and a final project presentation at the end of the program
We do not believe in creating busywork for interns. Your project will be selected closer to your start date based on active team priorities so that you can contribute to meaningful work alongside our full-time engineering team
Internship Program Structure
Each intern will have
A defined technical project aligned with current team priorities
A hiring manager responsible for project scope, performance, and feedback
A dedicated mentor separate from the hiring manager
Structured midpoint feedback
Regular opportunities to collaborate with and learn from Simbe engineers
A final project presentation at the end of the internship
Benefits:
Comprehensive health plans
Culture of learning
Flexible time off
Experience with FEA or other mechanical simulation tools
Experience working with motors, sensors, actuators, electromechanical assemblies, or mobile robots
Experience with mechanical testing, fixture design, reliability testing, or failure analysis
Strong technical problem-solving skills and willingness to work through ambiguous or unfamiliar problems
Previous hardware, mechanical engineering, robotics, manufacturing, or product development internship experience
Familiarity with basic electronics, wiring, or hardware/software integration
Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles and tolerance analysis
Experience designing components for CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding, 3D printing, or other manufacturing processes
Understanding of core mechanical design principles, including materials, tolerances, fasteners, fits, and basic manufacturing processes
Hands-on experience building, prototyping, assembling, or testing physical systems
Experience using AI-assisted engineering or design tools and the ability to thoughtfully validate generated output
Ability to interpret engineering drawings and communicate design intent clearly
Currently pursuing a BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Product Design, or a related technical field
Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, Onshape, or similar
Ability to work effectively in a hands-on engineering environment
Experience working on a robotics team, Formula SAE, Baja SAE, research lab, competition team, or similar hands-on engineering organization
Personal robotics, mechanical, mechatronics, or product-design projects outside of coursework
We primarily target students in their final year of study and will also consider strong juniors
Strong communication and collaboration skills