Work experience: 1-6 years

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana (Balanagar area)

Job type: Full-time, Permanent, On-site

Domain: AgriTech – Field Robotics, Autonomous Agricultural Vehicles, Precision Farming, and IoT Systems

Significant Note

Experience in UGVs, robotic platforms, agricultural machinery, or autonomous off-road vehicles is mandatory. Candidates must have hands-on experience in mechanical design, prototype development, integration, and field testing.

About Vir Innovations

We are a product development company headquartered in Hyderabad, building autonomous and robotic solutions for modern agriculture. Our primary focus is on developing advanced systems in the fields of field robotics, computer vision, precision spraying and IoT applications. Our objective is to create products that are rugged, affordable and ready for real farms, helping farmers cut costs, reduce chemical use and address labour shortages.

Our vision is to create a better everyday life for many people, by delivering smarter alternatives to traditional farm equipment.

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Mechanical Design & Development Engineer to join our Robotics team. The candidate will be responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), robotic platforms, and autonomous mobility systems intended for agricultural applications such as spraying, weeding, seeding, crop monitoring, and material transport.

The role involves end-to-end mechanical product design and development including chassis design, mobility systems, suspension systems, implement and payload integration, structural analysis, prototyping, and field testing. The engineer will work closely with electronics, embedded systems, controls, and manufacturing teams to develop rugged, reliable, and cost-effective robotic systems capable of operating in mud, dust, water, heat, and uneven terrain.

Key Responsibilities

1. Agricultural UGV Mechanical Design & Development a. Design and develop rugged chassis, structures, enclosures, mobility systems, and mechanical assemblies for agricultural UGVs and robotic platforms.

b. Develop robust mechanical solutions capable of operating in mud, dust, moisture, and exposure to fertilizers and pesticides over long working hours.

c. Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, manufacturing drawings, and technical documentation using SolidWorks.

d. Design modular vehicle architectures that support multiple implements and payloads such as sprayers, weeders, seeders, sampling tools, cameras, and sensors.

e. Optimize designs for strength, weight, cost, reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, and field serviceability by farmers and local technicians.

2. Mobility Systems & Vehicle Dynamics a. Design and develop wheeled, tracked, or hybrid mobility systems for row-crop fields, orchards, paddy fields, and uneven farmland.

b. Design suspension and steering systems (4WD/4WS, skid steer, crab steer) suitable for soft soil, slopes, furrows, and obstacle negotiation.

c. Design adjustable track-width and ground-clearance mechanisms for different crop row spacings and crop heights.

d.



Analyse vehicle stability, rollover on slopes, weight distribution, traction, and soil compaction.

e. Evaluate drivetrain layouts, steering systems, braking systems, and transmission mechanisms.

f. Support mobility performance validation through simulations and field trials.

3. System Integration & Packaging a. Perform vehicle packaging studies and subsystem layout optimization.

b. Integrate batteries, motors, gearboxes, GNSS/RTK, LiDAR, cameras, communication modules, and embedded electronics within compact, sealed layouts.

c. Design mounting interfaces for agricultural implements including spray booms, tanks and pumps, tillage and weeding tools, seed metering units, and robotic arms.

d. Ensure easy access for cleaning, maintenance, refilling, battery swapping, and repair in the field.

e. Collaborate closely with electronics, embedded software, and AI/vision teams for seamless subsystem integration.

4. Structural Analysis & Engineering Validation a. Perform Finite Element Analysis (FEA/FEM) for structural strength, fatigue, vibration, and impact loading from stones, ruts, and implements.

b. Conduct thermal analysis of motors, controllers, and battery packs operating in high ambient temperatures.

c. Validate designs against operational loads, terrain-induced shock and vibration, transportation, and environmental requirements.

d. Identify design risks and implement corrective measures during development stages.

e. Support safety, qualification, and acceptance testing activities.

5. Electric Powertrain & Energy Systems a. Design and integrate electric propulsion systems including motors, motor controllers, gearboxes, battery packs, and cooling systems.

b. Support battery packaging, protection, thermal management, and power distribution architecture, including solar-assisted charging concepts.

c. Evaluate powertrain performance for endurance, efficiency, and full-shift field operation requirements.

d. Support hybrid and future propulsion concepts where applicable.

6. Prototyping, Manufacturing & Field Testing a. Develop rapid prototypes using CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and additive manufacturing processes.

b. Support assembly, integration, troubleshooting, and vehicle commissioning activities.

c. Conduct field trials on real farms across seasons, crops, and soil conditions.

d. Analyse test results and implement design improvements based on farmer and operator feedback.

e. Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure production readiness, cost targets, and quality compliance.

7. Documentation & Configuration Management a. Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, BOMs, interface documents, assembly and service manuals, and test reports.

b.



Support engineering change management and product lifecycle activities.

c. Maintain design records in PLM/PDM systems.

d. Ensure documentation complies with internal quality and agricultural machinery safety requirements.

Technical Skills required

- Proficiency in SolidWorks / Fusion 360
- Must have experience in:

a. 3D modelling b. Assembly design c. Manufacturing drawings d. GD&T; e. DFM/DFA principles f. Weldments and sheet metal design
- Simulation & Analysis a. ANSYS b. SolidWorks Simulation c. Fusion 360 Simulation d. Knowledge of:

i. Static analysis ii. Dynamic analysis iii. Modal analysis iv. Fatigue analysis v. Thermal analysis vi. Vehicle kinematics and multibody dynamics
- Vehicle & Mobility Systems

Strong understanding of

a. Chassis design b. Suspension systems c. Steering systems d. Tracked vehicle systems e. Off-road and soft-soil mobility (terramechanics)

f. Vehicle packaging g. Vehicle dynamics and slope stability h. Ground mobility analysis

- Materials & Manufacturing a. Knowledge of:

i. Aluminium alloys ii. Mild and high strength steels iii. Stainless steel and corrosion-resistant coatings iv. Engineering plastics and composite materials b. Hands-on experience with:

i. CNC machining ii. Sheet metal fabrication iii. Welding iv. Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

v. Mechanical assembly

- Agricultural & Ruggedized Systems

Exposure to

a. Agricultural machinery, tractors, or farm robotics b. Autonomous and off-road vehicles c. Spraying, seeding, weeding, or harvesting mechanisms d. Environmental and durability testing e. Dust, vibration, and shock design f. IP-rated (IP65/IP67) and washdown-friendly enclosure design g. EMI/EMC considerations for mechanical integration h. Agri-machinery safety standards (e.g., ISO 4254, ISO 18497) – a plus

Soft Skills required

- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Hands-on engineering mindset with ownership of complete product development.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced agri-tech technology startup environment.
- Strong communication and technical documentation skills.
- Participate in field trials on farms, vehicle testing, and deployment activities, including outdoor work in varied weather

Desired candidate profile An engineer passionate about agricultural technology, autonomous systems, robotics, and mobility platforms who enjoys transforming concepts into deployable military-grade UGVs capable of operating reliably in challenging real-world environments.

- 1–6 years of experience in mechanical design and product development
- Experience in UGVs, robotics, agricultural or automotive platforms, special-purpose vehicles, or autonomous systems for agriculture is mandatory.
- Solid communication, leadership, collaboration skills
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Mechatronics/Robotics/Agricultural Engineering or a related discipline.

Note To apply for this opportunity, you may also email your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the email subject as "Application for Mechanical Design & Development Engineer – Agricultural UGV / Rover Systems Role".

📌 Mechanical Design & Development Engineer – Agricultural UGV / Rover Systems (Hyderabad)
🏢 Vir Innovations
📍 Hyderabad