As a Mechanical Engineer, you will take ownership of the mechanical design of a metal soil sensor head that is inserted into and dragged through soil using agricultural machinery (e.g., tractor-mounted systems). You will design durable, manufacturable components that integrate optical sensors (NIR, UV-VIS) and electrochemical sensing (EIS), while withstanding abrasion, impact, moisture, and long-term field wear.

You will work closely with electronics, optics, and production teams to bring designs from concept to CNC-manufactured reality.

• Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for a metal soil sensor head used in harsh agricultural environments

• Engineer structures that withstand abrasion, impact, vibration, moisture, and long-term soil contact

• Select suitable metals, coatings, and surface treatments to minimize wear and corrosion in the field

• Design for CNC machining, including tolerances, manufacturability, and cost efficiency

• Integrate optical components such as lenses, windows, and sensor mounts while ensuring alignment stability and environmental sealing

• Collaborate with electronics and optics teams to ensure proper thermal, mechanical, and environmental interfaces

• Create detailed CAD models, technical drawings, and BOMs

• Support prototyping, testing, and iterative design improvements based on field feedback

• Work with production and suppliers to transition designs into small- and medium-scale manufacturing

• Contribute to design documentation and engineering change processes

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field

• Experience designing mechanical systems for outdoor or industrial applications (agri-tech, automotive, heavy machinery, robotics, or similar)

• Strong understanding of metal properties, wear mechanisms, and material selection for abrasive environments

• Hands-on experience designing parts for CNC machining

• Experience with SolidWorks or Fusion 360

• Familiarity with sealing concepts (O-rings, gaskets, IP protection, etc.)

• Basic understanding of opto-mechanical design (mounting lenses, optical windows, sensor alignment)

• Ability to work across disciplines and translate system requirements into robust mechanical designs

• A practical, problem-solving mindset with attention to detail

• Professional working proficiency in English; German is a plus.

Nice to have:

• Background in agricultural machinery or agri-tech equipment design

• Experience with surface treatments or coatings (e.g., hardening, anodizing, PVD, nitriding)

• Exposure to field testing and iterative hardware development

• Experience designing components that interface with soil, sand, or other abrasive media 

• Experience with CFD or numerical simulations to analyze a sensor head moving through soil, including pressure distribution, drag forces, and stress/pressure concentration points

• Familiarity with using simulation results to optimize geometry for durability, reduced wear, and stable sensor operation

• A key engineering role in a fast-growing agri-tech company with real-world impact

• An agile, international team with flat hierarchies and fast decision-making

• The opportunity to design hardware that is used directly by farmers in the field

• A collaborative, hands-on development environment

• Coffee, tea, and snacks in our office

• ABC Berlin/Potsdam travel pass or Deutschland ticket

We are changing how farmers understand and manage their soil—moving from lab-based analysis to real-time insights directly in the field. We value transparency, ownership, and continuous improvement, and we believe great products come from teams that respect and support each other.

We set high standards, reward performance, and foster a positive, constructive feedback culture.

If you are ready to tackle the challenge of making complex soil data instantly accessible and actionable for farmers worldwide, we want to hear from you.

Send us your application (CV or LinkedIn). Reach out to careers@stenon.io

if you have any questions – we're happy to help.