Co-op: Mechanical Engineer - Focus Design

About the Company

ESTAT is a university startup that spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. We have translated basic research on electroadhesives into useful robotics components such as clutches, brakes, locks, and latches. Our products are 10x lighter, 10x more compact, and 1000x more efficient than traditional options, promising to redefine what is possible in robotic design.

We are currently at our "hockey stick" moment. After offering off-the-shelf products for over a year, we have recently started making sales in volumes large enough to transition some manufacturing to a roll-to-roll process. We sell catalog electroadhesive clutches and brakes, custom solutions, and R&D services for large corporations and the government. We move at a fast pace as sales ramp up and innovation continues.

ESTAT partners with large corporations and is exploring a co-op exchange program where students learn about electroadhesives at ESTAT before spending a second rotation helping partners implement them in their systems.

About the Role

This student will be a major contributor to the development of new and existing brake and clutch designs. You will use existing tools to design custom robotics components to meet customer specifications, working directly with customers to translate needs into production files and managing supplier orders and quality control.

Beyond immediate design tasks, you will work to improve existing design tools to quickly deliver custom rotary and linear designs. Side projects may involve developing demos and fun applications of the technology to grab people's attention. There is also a significant opportunity to invent or contribute to the invention of new electroadhesive products. Past students have become patent authors, and you have the chance to do the same if you contribute novel, industrially relevant ideas.

A Week at ESTAT

While days vary, a typical week follows a structured rhythm. Every Monday, leadership sets priorities and discusses milestones with the team. Each member loads their schedule with tasks needed to meet those goals and identifies support needs. We hold Scrum meetings to align on the week's progress, take feedback, and make adjustments.

The rest of the week is execution. Wednesdays are typically reserved for one-on-one meetings with managers to discuss progress, present metrics, review roadblocks, and schedule major projects. On Fridays, we have a quick team touch base to ensure critical items are completed so everyone can enjoy the weekend without worry.

Throughout the week, you might test the newest electroadhesive clutch, assist with patent drafting, machine parts in our shop, perform statistical analysis, program a robotic test stand, visit a supplier's factory, draft CAD models, perform FEA, represent the company at a major conference, or visit an Air Force Base for acceleration sled testing.

What We Look For

We believe our heart is in our work and passion is in the details. We look for self-motivated students who love making things happen and have experience working in teams toward a goal, including sharing stories of trial, error, failure, and victory. While we expect students to have mastered the basics of their field, we know no one comes to ESTAT with prior experience in electroadhesives; we provide the time and environment to learn and become independent.

Our company mantras guide our culture:

1. We tell it as it is, not as we wish it to be.
2. We let the data do the talking and drive our decisions with facts.
3. We give credit and share blame.

We have a strong preference for Juniors and Seniors, though we consider lower-classmen with exceptional hands-on experience. We especially prefer students who are considering two 6-month rotations, as this is the best way to ensure they can make lasting contributions.