Mechanical Engineer 3, Solar Roof R&D

GAF Energy • Georgetown, TX

55d

About The Position

GAF Energy is transforming the rooftop solar industry to generate "Energy from Every Roof". As a Standard Industries company, GAF Energy works in partnership with North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF, offering homeowners elegant, roof-integrated solar options. The company also provides commercial tax equity funding for large-scale rooftop solar projects. For more information about GAF Energy, visit www.gaf.energy. Job Summary GAF Energy is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer 3 to join our R&D team. You will play a critical role in supporting released products, and in designing, testing, and integrating our next-generation building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof systems. This exciting role will report to the Sr. Director, System Integration, and will work in a small, agile R&D team, collaborating with Manufacturing, Reliability, and Product Management. The role features significant opportunity for growth, so you'll need to be adept at mentoring others and communicating cross-functionally. Your work will be crucial to ensuring our mechanical systems are robust, manufacturable, cost-effective, and seamlessly integrated into a world-class product. The ideal candidate must have a passion for renewable energy, deep expertise in mechanical design and system integration, and thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on R&D environment. With your outstanding technical acumen and attention to detail, you can help us protect what matters most.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field. required
• 5+ years of experience in a product development, mechanical or electromechanical design role. Required
• Experience with PV module components, materials, and fabrication techniques.
• Expert proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks including PDM Vault preferred).
• Strong experience in designing for high-volume manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, extrusion, sheet metal stamping, die casting).
• Demonstrated ability to apply FEA, FMEA, and other analytical methods to solve complex design problems.
• A "can-do" attitude and a hands-on passion for prototyping (3D printing, machining, etc.) and laboratory testing.
• Strong, fundamentals-based problem-solving skills and an aptitude for learning systems quickly.
• Proven track record of innovation and creative problem-solving.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and drive projects to completion.
• Strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external cross-functional teams.
• Willingness and ability to spend a significant portion of the day in an R&D lab, production floor, or on test roof sites.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience in the roofing, residential construction, or building materials industry.
• Knowledge of building codes and product certification standards (e.g., UL, ASTM, ICC-ES).
• Experience with ANSYS.
• Experience with composite materials
• Experience with factory automation, factory metrology, and AI-based machine learning techniques to support process control.
• Experience with configuration management tools (Arena preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design, analysis, and validation of components and subsystems for BIPV roofing products from concept to production, including mounting, flashing, wire management, enclosures, and thermal performance.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles to the design, integration, and testing of PV module components (e.g., solar cells, encapsulants, glass, backsheets, junction boxes) within the BIPV system.
• Create and maintain detailed 3D CAD models (SolidWorks), assemblies, manufacturing drawings, and BOM's
• Perform tolerance analysis, GD&T, and Design for Manufacturability/Assembly (DFM/DFA) to ensure robust and cost-effective designs.
• Develop and execute comprehensive validation test plans (DVTs) for mechanical and electromechanical systems, including structural, environmental, and reliability testing.
• Build and test functional prototypes in laboratory and real-world environments to validate designs and iterate quickly.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering to scale designs from prototype to high-volume production, including the design of assembly jigs and fixtures.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners for component sourcing, fabrication, and co-development.
• Create and present technical documentation, design reviews, and test reports to cross-functional and executive stakeholders.

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Our Family-Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.
• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work-life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee's primary residence.
• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• We're committed to fostering a culture that reflects our values to connect, empower, evolve, and inspire. We offer many opportunities for employees to connect with one another, including through our Employee Resource Groups who focus on education and allyship for all of our employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Specialty Trade Contractors
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees