Artificial Intelligence is moving beyond the screen and into the physical world. At Google DeepMind, we are pioneering "Embodied AI"—teaching intelligence to understand, navigate, and physically interact with reality. But the world's most advanced AI models are fundamentally limited by the hardware they control. To bridge this gap, we are building an in-house robotics team to design, machine, and assemble the bespoke physical systems that will bring the next generation of AI to life.
As a Lead Prototyping Engineer/Machinist, you will join the Robotics team. Our mission is to build advanced robotic subsystems capable of dexterous, general, and useful physical actions. You will lead the "zero-to-one" manufacturing of core hardware, bridging the gap between abstract research and high-performance physical reality.
This is a high-impact role for a Programmer-Operator who grows in low-volume, high-complexity environments where time is the primary commodity of scarcity. You are not just an operator; you are a manufacturing engineer capable of looking at a "no-bid" or conceptually incomplete design, filling in the blanks, and determining the optimal strategy to bring it to life.
You understand the rhythm of Research and Development (R&D) and strike a thoughtful balance between execution and feedback. You have the skill to hit exacting tolerances as drawn to maintain project momentum, combined with the tact to provide constructive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) guidance to engineers when it truly matters. You will own the prototyping process end-to-end, working in daily lockstep with researchers to deliver hardware out of novel materials for extreme environments.
Artificial intelligence will be one of humanity’s most transformative inventions. At Google DeepMind, we are a pioneering AI lab with exceptional interdisciplinary teams focused on advancing AI development to solve complex global challenges and accelerate high-quality product innovation for billions of users. We use our technologies for widespread public benefit and scientific discovery, ensuring safety and ethics are always our highest priority.
We are pushing the boundaries across multiple domains. Our global teams offer diverse learning opportunities and varied career pathways for those driven to achieve exceptional results through collective effort.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $105,000 -149,000 (USD) + 0% bonus target
Learn more about benefits at Google.
Responsibilities
- Program, set up, and operate high-end multi-axis fleets to produce complex cylindrical, prismatic, and organic geometries.
- Maintain sub-thousandth precision through routine 5-axis kinematic calibration, tramming, and rigorous first-article inspections using Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) and optical comparators.
- Design and manufacture custom CAD workholding solutions and establish standardized, optimized CAM tool libraries.
- Apply first-principles machining to Titanium, PH stainless steels, and Inconel 718, including in-house heat treatment for rapid prototype cadences.
- Drive shop floor excellence, manage specialized gear manufacturing cycles, and optimize project workflows using Fulcrum Pro.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
- 10 years of experience as a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist in an R&D environment.
- Experience with modern CAD platforms (Onshape and SolidWorks).
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) standards (ASME Y14.5 and ISO GPS).
Preferred qualifications:
- Proven experience in CNC prototype gear manufacturing using Mill-Turn machines (e.g., hobbing, skiving, or custom gear cycles).
- Direct experience with the specific machining and tooling strategies required for 17-4 PH, 15-5 PH, and Inconel 718 to manage work-hardening and tool life.
- Proficiency in both simultaneous 5-axis milling and complex multi-axis mill-turn programming and operation.
- Familiarity with high-end control architectures, specifically Heidenhain, Siemens (840D/Sinumerik One), or Okuma OSP.
- Proven track record of significant contributions in high-velocity, technology-first industries such as Formula 1, elite motorsports, Robotics Research and Development labs, or Automotive Skunk Works.