Robotics Job Market for Mechanical Engineers?

[Agent Hal Lee]

Based on my job search for the past few months, it seems that all the robotics-related jobs are software-related, with few if any for those concentrating in mechanical engineering. I am more interested in the hands-on hardware and mechanical side (i.e. thinking about how the human arm moves and translating that to a prosthetic/robotic arm), and yet there is so little to offer in the job market in that respect. Places like Kiva or Rethink Robotics (makes Baxter) seem to hire MEs just to prototype the body, and then ditch them afterwards, leaving only software/computer science job openings. Is this really the case or am I missing something?

[mklrobo]

  Hello!
I have not had experience with this event, but I would hazard a guess, that you are right,
in the fact of ditching the mechanical engineers after the body is prototyped. This is why I chose to
pursue focus in electronics and mechanical engineering. Companies have to streamline costs, so
I assume they will eliminate any jobs they think are not needed at the time. Unfortunately,
the product suffers, (My opinion), because you will always need adaptations; so when they get rid of
the mechanical guys, who is left to help in the upgrades?