Mechanical Engineer III Product Design / Simulation

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer III to own and drive the mechanical development of a sophisticated vehicle-mounted photography system integrated onto a four-wheel vehicle chassis.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience in mechanical product design, simulation, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and manufacturing. This role will work closely with internal engineering teams, vendors, and third-party engineering partners to take products from concept and prototype through validation and production.

Experience in automotive, vehicle-mounted systems, robotics, or other mobile hardware platforms will be highly valuable.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on technical owner who can independently identify engineering challenges, drive solutions, manage external partners, and ensure the product meets performance, reliability, and environmental requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design and development of complex vehicle-mounted photography hardware and related mechanical systems.
• Lead products through the complete development lifecycle, including concept development, CAD design, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, testing, validation, and production.
• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, drawings, and engineering documentation.
• Perform or support FEA/simulation and engineering analysis to evaluate structural performance and guide design decisions.
• Design hardware capable of operating in demanding vehicle and outdoor environments, including exposure to rain, dust, UV, vibration, shock, and other environmental conditions.
• Develop and execute prototype builds and work hands-on with fabricated parts and assemblies.
• Support and drive vibration, shock, crash/impact, model, and environmental testing.
• Analyze test results, identify failures or design risks, determine root causes, and implement design improvements.
• Integrate mechanical systems with electrical assemblies, PCBs, sensors, cameras, cables, connectors, and other hardware.
• Work with manufacturing teams and suppliers to develop designs that are optimized for DFM/DFA, quality, cost, and scalability.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, material selection, and manufacturing process knowledge to ensure robust designs.
• Work directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, suppliers, and third-party engineering companies.
• Provide technical direction to third-party engineering partners, review their designs and deliverables, and drive them toward project objectives.
• Source and order prototype components and parts through external vendors.
• Identify and communicate technical risks, roadblocks, and dependencies to cross-functional teams and management.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance to other engineers.
• Drive urgent, cross-functional engineering issues through resolution.

Required Qualifications

• 8 10+ years of mechanical engineering/product design experience, with additional experience preferred.
• Strong experience designing mechanical components, assemblies, structures, or integrated hardware products.
• Strong hands-on experience with 3D CAD systems.
• Experience with PTC Creo is highly preferred.
• Experience with Onshape is preferred; SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, or comparable CAD systems are also relevant.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, engineering drawings, and mechanical design fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping and fabrication.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and DFM/DFA principles.
• Experience with mechanical and electrical/electromechanical assembly, including familiarity with PCB assemblies.
• Experience working with vendors, suppliers, machine shops, fabricators, or third-party engineering partners.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and failure-analysis skills.
• Ability to independently own complex mechanical engineering problems and drive them to resolution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive or vehicle-mounted product experience.
• Experience designing hardware for four-wheel vehicle platforms or other mobile systems.
• Experience with ANSYS, FEA, structural simulation, modal analysis, or dynamic analysis.
• Hands-on experience with vibration, shock, crash/impact, or environmental testing.
• Experience with waterproofing/weatherproofing, including rain, dust, UV exposure, sealing, gaskets, or water-ingress protection.
• Experience with camera, imaging, optical, sensor, robotics, ADAS, autonomous vehicle, or similar hardware.
• Experience leading third-party engineering organizations or external development partners.
• Experience taking hardware from prototype through NPI and mass production.

Technical Skills

Mechanical Design: Product Design, Mechanical Assemblies, System Integration, DFM/DFA, Tolerance Analysis, GD&T

CAD: PTC Creo, Onshape, SolidWorks, NX, CATIA

Simulation: ANSYS, FEA, Structural/Modal/Dynamic Analysis

Manufacturing: Fabrication, Machining, Sheet Metal, Prototyping, Assembly, Supplier/CM Processes

Testing: Vibration, Shock, Crash/Impact, Environmental, Validation Testing

Product Development: Concept Design Prototype Test Validation NPI Production
Location: Mountain View, CA
Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite, with some flexibility
Experience: 8 10+ years

Why This Role

This is an opportunity for a senior mechanical engineer to own and drive a real-world hardware product, working across mechanical design, simulation, fabrication, testing, manufacturing, and external engineering partners.

The role is ideal for someone who enjoys being hands-on, technically deep, and accountable for getting the product to work in the real world, rather than focusing solely on CAD design.

EEO:
Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans.