Mechanical Design Engineer

Department: Hardware Engineering

Location: Palo Alto

Employment Type: FullTime

Responsibilities

• Design and development of mechanical components and assemblies for data collection hardware and robotic devices

• Rapidly build, test, and break prototypes. You’ll use 3D printing, CNC machining, and manual fabrication to validate designs

• Contribute to DFM/DFA efforts to ensure designs can scale from low-volume prototypes to high-volume production

• Source components and work closely with machine shops and CMs to ensure parts are manufactured and shipped to spec and on time.

• Perform basic analyses (tolerance, structural, thermal) to validate design decisions

• Develop specifications and accelerated test plans to validate the product for its lifetime

• Assist in documentation for design reviews and testing

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (electrical, software, industrial design) to consolidate design requirements and integrate mechanical systems

Qualifications

• Exceptional Mechanical Intuition. You understand how forces, materials, and mechanisms behave instinctively.

• 5+ years of experience (or equivalent "hard tech" projects) building complex electromechanical systems and sensors

• Familiarity with rapid prototyping techniques such as 3D Printing, Machining, etc.

• High proficiency in SolidWorks, Catia or similar tools

• Hands-on problem-solving approach with ability to iterate quickly

• Experience designing for volume processes (Injection molding, CNC, etc.) and working with contract manufacturers.

• You are comfortable with ambiguity, move fast, and have an "engineering curiosity" that drives you to understand how the entire system works, not just your part.