The Grip Coach: prototype engineering, manufacturing, system integration - ON-1177

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - computer / electrical, Engineering, Engineering - mechanical, Design, Social Sciences & Humanities
Company: The Grip Coach
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): ON, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: CollegeUndergraduate/BachelorMaster'sPhDPostdoctoral fellowRecent graduate
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

The Grip Coach Inc. is a Toronto-based early-stage golf product and technology company developing a training device with a sensor-enabled hardware platform integrated with applied artificial intelligence to quantify grip mechanics, swing mechanics, and biomechanical performance in the golf training environment. The company’s mission is to establish a new category of objective measurement and feedback for skill development, enabling athletes and coaches to move beyond subjective feel-based training toward data-driven performance optimization.

Describe the project.: 

Prototype Engineering & Manufacturing Readiness
We are seeking a candidate to advance our initial design concepts and early prototype into a fully functional, validated hardware prototype, supported by detailed CAD models, engineering drawings, and technical documentation suitable for future manufacturing, design iteration, and scale-up.
The candidate will contribute to mechanical design refinement, sensor integration support, tolerance analysis, prototype fabrication, assembly, and functional verification testing. Deliverables will include a working prototype unit, complete CAD files, bill of materials, and engineering documentation that establish a foundation for manufacturability, cost optimization, and downstream product development.

System Integration, Sensing Validation & Algorithm Development
We are seeking a candidate to integrate sensing concepts, data acquisition pipelines, and algorithmic models into a cohesive physical system that demonstrates measurement feasibility, repeatability, robustness, and performance relevance under real-world operating conditions.
The candidate will support sensor calibration, signal processing, feature extraction, machine learning model development, experimental validation and data analysis. Deliverables will include validated datasets, performance benchmarks, prototype firmware/software modules, and documented methodologies supporting technical readiness and commercialization planning.

Required expertise/skills: 

Ideal Candidate Profile
• Strong hands-on builder and analytical mindset
• Comfortable working between CAD and physical hardware
• Comfortable bridging hardware and software
• Methodical in validation and documentation
• Interested in commercialization and manufacturability

Mechanical Design & CAD
• Advanced CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Creo, or equivalent)
• Assembly modeling, tolerance stack-up analysis
• Design-for-manufacturing (DFM/DFA) principles
• Ergonomic design and human interface considerations
• Material selection for durability and sensor integration
Prototyping & Fabrication
• Rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, CNC, soft tooling)
• Mechanical assembly and fixture design
• Iterative design testing and revision control
• BOM creation and cost modeling
Hardware Integration
• Mechanical integration of sensors and electronics
• Cable routing, enclosure sealing, vibration isolation
• Basic electrical literacy (connectors, grounding, EMI awareness)
Validation & Documentation
• Functional verification testing
• Measurement repeatability testing
• Engineering documentation and revision control
• Manufacturing transfer documentation
Sensors & Embedded Systems
• Sensor characterization and calibration
• Data acquisition systems and embedded firmware
• Signal integrity, sampling strategies
• Power management and latency optimization