Mechanical Design Engineer - Outdoor Solar & ESS Inverters (EE26121)
About The Position
Design, develop, and validate mechanical systems for outdoor photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) inverter platforms to ensure reliable performance, environmental protection, manufacturability, and serviceability in harsh outdoor conditions. The role covers inverter enclosures, structural frames, mounting systems, internal layouts, component packaging, 3D models, detailed drawings, bills of material, and engineering documentation. It also involves defining mechanical architecture, clearances, accessibility, and serviceability requirements in coordination with electrical, thermal, controls, sourcing, manufacturing, and testing teams. The engineer designs outdoor-rated enclosures and related systems to address ingress protection, ventilation, sealing, condensation control, corrosion, solar loading, ambient temperature, altitude, acoustics, and vibration. The role integrates cooling components and airflow features and evaluates structural performance, vibration, tolerance stack-ups, manufacturability, and thermal stress. The engineer coordinates prototypes and testing, analyzes field issues and root causes, and implements design improvements. Design for manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, and cost are applied to improve fabrication, assembly, localization, supplier qualification, and lifecycle cost. Participation in design reviews and technical support for proposal, field, and client-facing activities may also be required. Employees are expected to fulfill assigned tasks, advise their manager, provide early notice when work cannot be delivered as specified, collaborate across teams, uphold company core values and policies, recommend improvements, and use business tools and processes effectively. Domestic and international travel of less than 20% may be required, occasionally with limited notice. The hiring range is $93,450–$140,150.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent through education and/or work experience.
- At least 3 years of demonstrated experience in mechanical design for power electronics, inverters, switchgears, transformers, outdoor industrial equipment, or related mechanical systems.
- Demonstrated experience with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated experience with multiphysics simulations (FEA/CFD) using tools such as COMSOL or ANSYS Maxwell.
- Understanding of structural design, materials, and manufacturing processes such as sheet metal, casting, machining, or related fabrication methods.
- Understanding of thermal management and cooling systems for power electronics.
- Familiarity with environmental design requirements for outdoor equipment, including IP and/or NEMA ratings.
- Successful working relationships with clients, suppliers, and other internal and external contacts.
- Strong personal leadership, interpersonal, organizational, administrative, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated continuous improvement in areas of responsibility.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
- Availability for domestic and international travel of less than 20% as needed, occasionally with limited notice.
Nice To Haves
- At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in mechanical design for power electronics, inverters, switchgears, transformers, outdoor industrial equipment, or related mechanical systems.
- Experience designing equipment to meet UL, IEC, or other standards relevant to outdoor electrical equipment.
- Experience with liquid cooling system design.
- Experience working with global teams.
- Experience developing and onboarding relevant domestic and global suppliers.
Responsibilities
- Design mechanical systems for inverter platforms, including enclosures, structural frames, mounting systems, internal layouts, and component packaging.
- Develop 3D models, detailed drawings, bills of material, and engineering documentation for inverter assemblies.
- Define mechanical architecture, clearances, accessibility, and serviceability requirements in coordination with cross-functional teams.
- Design outdoor-rated enclosures and mechanical systems to address environmental and operating requirements, including ingress protection, ventilation, sealing, condensation, corrosion, solar loading, temperature, altitude, acoustics, and vibration.
- Integrate cooling components, airflow paths, ducting, heat sink structures, fans, heat exchangers, pumps, and related mechanical features.
- Perform structural, vibration, tolerance stack-up, manufacturability, and thermal-stress evaluations.
- Coordinate prototype builds, environmental and mechanical testing, and validation activities.
- Analyze field issues and root-cause findings and implement mechanical design improvements.
- Apply design-for-manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, and cost principles to improve fabrication, assembly, localization, supplier qualification, and lifecycle cost.
- Participate in design reviews and provide technical input to proposal, field, and client-facing activities as needed.
- Collaborate with peers and cross-organizational teams, advise the manager, provide early notice of delivery risks, recommend improvements, and comply with company policies and applicable regulations.
- Travel domestically and internationally as needed, less than 20%, occasionally with limited notice.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
