Mechanical Design Engineer

SoLa Impact•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Model/Z seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer to support product development and create manufacturable solutions for modular housing production. The role focuses on improving manufacturability and production efficiency while reducing housing costs in California. The engineer develops detailed 3D CAD models, prototypes, large assemblies, tooling, and fixtures, working with manufacturing, quality, operations, supply chain, and other cross-functional teams. The position carries designs through established engineering procedures, including design proposals, technical and design reviews, and PDM/PLM management. It evaluates designs for manufacturability and assembly, develops and tests prototypes, maintains drawings and technical documentation, manages revisions and product configurations, and supports production-line testing and implementation. The engineer also helps transition new and revised designs into production by ensuring that requirements, documentation, materials, and configurations are communicated and controlled. Model/Z is a Southern California company developing standardized modular housing units, with a mission to provide scalable, practical, high-quality, low-cost, net-zero-ready housing. The company is majority Black-owned and operated and is based in the historic Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles. It aims to establish the region’s first standardized modular housing factory and emphasizes community revitalization, local employment, and equitable growth.

Requirements

0–3 years of mechanical engineering industry experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals.
Advanced fabrication experience, including CNC machining, welding, and precision assembly.
Knowledge of rapid prototyping methods, lean manufacturing principles, and testing and validation procedures.
Experience with CAD/PDM/PLM systems, product development processes, and project management.
Proficiency with 3D mechanical design, analysis, and drafting tools.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Experience with Autodesk Inventor, NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, ANSYS, or similar tools.
Candidates local to Los Angeles are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluate product and process inefficiencies through technical analysis and prototyping, and validate economic feasibility with management using business principles.
Design and manage large assembly models, configuration management, and document control in accordance with ASME standards.
Implement design-build improvements and carry changes through Engineering Change Order processes on a live production line.
Manage internal PDM/PLM systems and external fabrication drawing libraries for manufacturers and suppliers.
Work cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and industrial systems teams.
Maintain EBOM, MBOM, and PBOM and align them with ERP systems.
Work with Supply Chain and contracted manufacturers and suppliers.
Coordinate design solutions with Architectural, Structural, MEP, and Inspection teams, and follow through with submissions to city and state agencies.
Conduct root cause analysis of production processes and design features to identify potential pain points.
Apply automotive and aerospace manufacturing principles to construction.
Write technical standard operating procedures and manuals to support Quality and Process Engineering.
Design and build production fixtures and jigs.
Fabricate and integrate precision tooling into the production line.
Troubleshoot technical problems and develop improvements that support lower housing costs, quality, repeatability, and manufacturing efficiency.
Support production-line testing and implementation and the transition of new and revised designs from engineering into production.