Mechanical Design Engineer

About Us Pipein is transforming how critical infrastructure is inspected and maintained across water and wastewater systems, energy assets, and underwater and large-scale civil infrastructure. We are a fast-moving Deep Tech startup developing DDS3, an integrated robotic and software system that combines advanced inspection robots with a digital platform to operate inside pipelines, tunnels, and complex confined environments. We convert inspection data into actionable insights for smarter asset management, risk reduction, and predictive maintenance. We are now entering an exciting phase as we scale our technology and accelerate market adoption. To support this growth, we are hiring talented individuals to join our team. Over the next months, we plan to scale the size of the company, making this a unique moment to join Pipein and help shape the future of our technology. The Role We are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer who is ready to move beyond "just CAD" and take ownership of the entire hardware lifecycle. We don't need a cog in a machine; we need a builder. You will be joining a lean team, meaning you will be involved in everything: from clean-sheet conceptual design of the robot and its peripherals to managing suppliers and testing your prototypes in the field. This is not a desk job. You will design it, build it, stress it until it fails, fix it, and then take it into demanding test environments to prove it works. What You Will Do - Full-Cycle Design: Lead or contribute to the mechanical design of our robotic fleet and peripherals. You will help design chassis, sealing systems, and sensor payloads that must survive harsh environments. You will see projects through from a sketch on a napkin to a manufactured part. - Design for Manufacturing (DFM): You won't just design for the screen. You will create parts that can actually be made managing tolerances, selecting materials, and working directly with machine shops and suppliers to get them produced. - Prototyping & Assembly: Get hands-on in the workshop to assemble what you design. - Field Testing & Operations: Take part in on-site deployments and controlled field tests to observe how your designs perform in demanding, real-world conditions. You will work directly with the operations team in industrial environments, using firsthand feedback to iterate, harden, and improve the system. - Creative Problem Solving: We are a startup; things change fast. You need to be ready to solve unexpected problems whether it's a design constraint or a logistics one with a "can-do" attitude. Who We Are Looking For - A Problem Solver: You don't wait for instructions. If you see a problem (in the CAD or in the workshop), you fix it. - Strong Engineering Fundamentals: You have a solid theoretical foundation in mechanical engineering and apply it pragmatically; strength of materials, multibody dynamics, tolerances, and failure modes help you guide your design decisions, not just intuition. - CAD Native: You are fluent in computer aided design (Solidworks, Onshape, Fusion...). You understand how to manage large assemblies and configurations intuitively. - Hands-On Prototyping: We don't just design on screens. You will be in the workshop assembling prototypes, testing mechanisms, and breaking things to learn how to make them better. - Manufacturing Mindset: You know the difference between a part that costs €10 and €100 to machine. You understand CNC, turning, and sheet metal limitations. - Resilient & Adaptable: This is a startup. Priorities change. You might be designing a precision gearbox in the morning and hauling equipment in a van in the afternoon. - Practical Experience–Driven: You may have limited formal work experience, but you have built real things. Strong experience in student competition teams (Formula Student/SAE, aerospace, rocketry, solar car, etc.), personal projects, or hands-on work such as helping in your family workshop can be an excellent fit. We value grit, ownership, and practical problem-solving over job titles. Education & work experience - Master's degree in mechanical oriented engineering. - 1–3 Years Experience: You are early in your career but driven, curious, and eager to take ownership. We value motivation, learning speed, and initiative as much as formal experience. - English Fluency (B2 or higher): The day to day and all internal communications will be in English. Essential for our technical documentation and international suppliers. Why Join Pipein? - Unmatched Learning Opportunity: You will learn faster than in any traditional role. Working in a growing deep-tech robotics startup means direct exposure to system-level design, real-world constraints, and the full product lifecycle from concept to deployment. - Direct Founder Access & Growth: You will work closely with the founders and senior engineers, gaining firsthand insight into technical decision-making while actively shaping the engineering culture as the company scales. - Real Robotics, Real Impact: Your work will go directly into robots operating in harsh, real-world environments. Nothing you build will sit unused or hidden in a folder. - Challenging Problems, No Routine: We tackle complex physical and multidisciplinary problems across mechanics, electronics, software, and operations. Every week brings new technical challenges. - Ownership from Day One: We trust our team. If you have a strong idea, you will be encouraged and supported to prototype, test, and ship it. What We Offer - Competitive Salary: A package aligned with your experience and responsibilities, with a typical range of €30,000 - €40,000 gross per year (RAL), and room to grow as the company scales. - Flexible Working Hours: Flexibility in working hours, with the possibility of partial smart working when compatible with project and workshop activities. - Field & Startup Exposure: Hands-on involvement in a growing deep-tech robotics startup, including travel to inspection and deployment sites across Europe, with a level of responsibility and impact far beyond what is typically possible in larger organizations. Selection process Our hiring process is designed to be straightforward, and fair, giving both you and us a clear understanding of whether there is a strong mutual fit. - Introductory Interview (30 minutes): An initial conversation focused on your background, experience, motivation, and cultural fit, helping us understand how you approach problems and what drives you. It also gives you the opportunity to assess whether the role, team, and company are the right fit for you. - Technical Interview (45 minutes): A deeper discussion with members of our technical team. We will explore your hands-on experience, core technical skills, and personal or academic projects to understand how you think and work. - In-Person Technical Interview (2-3 hours): You will spend some time with the team working on real problems. This final interview is designed to assess your problem-solving approach, technical skills, and attitude, while giving you firsthand exposure to the team and everyday working environment to determine whether Pipein is the right fit for you. Please feel free to submit your cover letter at careers@pipein.it detailing your experience and why you fit this role.