Aptera is looking for a Senior Design Release Engineer to own the CAD design, mechanical release, and lifecycle of electrical modules on our solar electric vehicle. You'll package PCBs into enclosures, own enclosure design and tooling, and drive your parts from concept through SOP in CATIA — jumping in hands-on wherever needed in our fast-paced start-up environment.
What you'll do
Serve as technical lead and single point of accountability for the mechanical/CAD execution of assigned modules, from concept through SOP
Package PCBs into enclosures — connector layouts, stack-ups, thermal management, and sealing
Own enclosure design and tooling strategy across injection molding, die casting, sheet metal, and machining
Create and manage CATIA models and drawings, own the Engineering BOM, and lead ECR/ECO change management
Support hands-on prototype and pilot builds — bench work, mock-ups, and in-vehicle installations
Partner with the Electrical Engineering team on harness and EMC integration
Qualifications
Required: deep, hands-on CATIA (V5/V6, 3DEXPERIENCE) and GD&T expertise
Proven ownership of BOMs and ECOs in PLM systems
Experience with PCB packaging, OTS component integration, and enclosure design
Strong cross-functional leadership with a hands-on, start-up mindset
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with ENOVIA/3DX
Familiarity with APQP/PPAP, DV/PV testing, and automotive environmental standards
Supplier tooling oversight and rapid-iteration prototyping experience
Start-up experience
Team Structure
Individual contributor; collaborate with other teams and individuals, as necessary
Required Experience
7+ years in DRE/Product Engineering in automotive or adjacent industries
Educational Requirements
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
Salary + Benefits
Market competitive compensation package
Stock option grants
Fully funded benefits package for employee + dependents