R&D Mechanical Engineer

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we’re imagining that future today.

We work onsite 4+ days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a talented and innovative Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our dynamic Research and Advanced Development 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. You will 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
• Designs, programs, and fabricates automated test fixtures
• 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 meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements
• 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 production design and sourcing teams to ensure that designs have a line of sight to scalable and cost-effective high-volume production
• Stays up to date 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, design process, test procedures, and troubleshooting guides to support product development and production teams
• Will perform additional duties as required

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• 5-10+ years of experience in mechanical design and development, ideally in consumer electronics, IoT devices, or similar product areas
• Experience with a broad range of mechanisms employed to solve engineering problems
• Proficiency in CAD software and 3D modeling, including surfacing and top-down master modeling techniques
• Extensive experience with mechanical prototyping and rapid prototyping methods (e.g., 3D printing, CNC machining), and testing
• Experience creating motorized systems from the ground up
• Knowledge of materials science and experience selecting materials for performance, durability, and manufacturability
• Knowledge of Injection molded plastics, sheet metal and other common manufacturing processes
• 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 performance, 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
• 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
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• 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.
• Experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi and similar platforms
• Working knowledge of GD&T and component sourcing
• Experience in designing products for consumer health or pet care markets
• Basic understanding of electrical and firmware design
• Experience with Creo

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.

Whisker will not ask you to interview with an AI chat bot. We ask that all interviewees refrain from using any AI tools during interviews with Whisker team members.