Founding Mechanical Engineer — Robotics

About Company

Exantro is building autonomous battery-swap infrastructure that enables drones to operate continuously without pausing for power. The company was founded on the belief that the real bottleneck in scaling drone operations is energy, not the drone itself. Exantro engineers stations, batteries, and software that transform one-off drone flights into reliable, ongoing services. The team focuses on integrating hardware and software to create robust, scalable systems for next-generation autonomous operations. Joining Exantro offers the opportunity to shape the core technology behind high-impact drone infrastructure from an early stage.

About the Role

We're looking for our first hire — a Founding Mechanical Engineer to join Exantro's 3-person founding team and help build the mechanical systems behind our autonomous battery-swapping robot: precision mechanisms, weatherproof enclosures, and field-hardened structures. You'll work directly alongside all three founders, including our mechanical engineering co-founder, shaping not just the product but how the hardware team itself gets built.

Areas you could be working on

Scope shifts fast at this stage, so this is illustrative of what the role touches, not a fixed task list:
Precision mechanisms — alignment systems, actuation, latching/locking, drone-docking interfaces
Enclosures and structures rated for outdoor deployment (IP54/65/67), including sealing, gasketing, and thermal management
Motor, actuator, and sensor selection and integration
DFM/DFA and vendor coordination (CNC, sheet metal, injection molding) to move designs from prototype to production
Tolerance stacking, FEA, and reliability/durability testing
Engineering Part/Assembly Drawings and Fabrication Drawings
Rapid prototyping and iteration based on bench and field test data

What we are looking for

3+ years of mechanical engineering experience designing electromechanical or robotic systems
Hands-on experience designing systems with defined IP ratings (sealing design, gasket selection, connector/cable gland specification, environmental testing)
Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape, Fusion 360, or equivalent) and FEA tools
Solid understanding of GD&T, and DFM/DFA across sheet metal, CNC machining, and injection molding
Experience with complex FDM 3D Printing is good to have.
Genuine passion for startups — comfortable with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and wearing multiple hats; prior startup experience is a strong plus.
Bonus: experience with outdoor/weatherproof robotics (agriculture, telecom, EV charging infra, industrial automation) or battery handling systems.

What we offer

INR 10–18 LPA, based on experience and fit, plus ESOPs (details discussed during the offer stage)
Direct, daily collaboration with all three founders — no layers, no process overhead
Ownership over your work, not oversight — we care about outcomes, not hours logged or how you get there