Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer - Structures & Alignment
On-site · Menlo Park, California, United States
Job Summary
Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer – Structures & Alignment responsible for leading structural design and alignment strategy for critical components, designing and validating bolted joints under cyclic and thermal loading, and developing GD&T/tolerance strategies. Owns 3D CAD (SolidWorks) and structural FEA (ANSYS or equivalent), models structural behavior under vibration and thermal gradients, plans durability testing, and translates test/field data into improved design standards. Partners with Electrical, Controls, and Manufacturing to ensure scalable robustness. Located in Menlo Park, CA, with a focus on high-vibration, high-cycle environments and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust mechanical systems for the Mainspring Linear Generator. Key qualifications include a Mechanical Engineering degree with BS + 12 years or MS + 10 years experience, proficiency in SolidWorks, FEA/CFD skills, experience with manufacturing processes, and a track record of leading design lifecycles and root-cause investigations. Commitment to clean energy and sustainable solutions.
Required Qualifications
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a similar engineering field from an accredited institution
- Minimum: BS + 12 years experience or MS + 10 years experience
- Delivered products as a technical lead through 3+ full design lifecycles from concept to manufacturing support
- Experience with high vibration environments and large cyclic loading
- Expertise in bolted joints, thermal effects on structures, and vibration environments
- Fluent in SolidWorks or similar CAD; CAD version control with PDM preferred
- Hands-on mechanical prototyping, testing, and engineering analysis (FEA, CFD, thermal analysis, tolerance stack-ups)
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes (sheet metal, welding, casting), and DFM
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and mentor others
- Passion for clean energy and sustainability
Apply with one swipe on Sorce. We auto-fill applications and apply on your behalf — no cover letters, no 40-minute forms.
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.