Lead Mechanical Engineer

Department: Specter

Location: San Francisco

Employment Type: FullTime

Our client develops connected hardware–software systems designed to provide real-time visibility into physical infrastructure through distributed wireless sensing platforms.

Their technology combines modular sensor hardware, ruggedized compute systems, and wireless mesh networking to enable organizations to monitor and interact with physical assets across industrial and operational environments.

They are seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and deployment of modular sensor products and compute platforms used in large-scale wireless sensing systems.

In this role, you will work cross-functionally with product, electrical, firmware, and manufacturing teams to architect and develop mechanical systems that support mesh networking of sensors in demanding real-world environments. You will also be responsible for designing actuator systems that integrate within sensing networks.

Responsibilities

• Design modular sensor hardware from concept through production

• Develop mechanical architecture for sensor and compute platforms

• Collaborate with manufacturing teams on prototyping and fabrication processes

• Support high-volume production and design-for-manufacturing initiatives

• Partner with EE, firmware, and test teams for integrated system design

• Work with contract manufacturers to resolve production challenges

• Support field deployments and troubleshoot hardware failures

• Contribute to mechanical team growth and engineering workflows

• Manage multiple projects across development and deployment phases

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent)

• 10+ years of experience designing and deploying high-volume hardware products

• Experience designing systems for harsh outdoor environments (e.g. IP67, MIL-STD)

• Experience with tolerance analysis for prototyping and production

• Hands-on experience with shock, vibration, thermal, or EMC testing

• Experience designing for machining, injection molding, casting, or sheet metal

• Experience with thermal and structural analysis

• Familiarity with PCBA packaging or RF system integration

• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g. SolidWorks)

• Experience with ECO, BOM, and manufacturing documentation processes

• Familiarity with GD&T and production drawing standards

Experience supporting hardware deployments in operational environments is a plus.

This role offers the opportunity to design and deploy hardware systems used in real-world environments where reliability, performance, and scalability are critical.