Mechanical Engineer III

NIBE Element North America•Hayward, CA

2d•$95,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineer III is part of Therm-x's NPI Engineering team, responsible for taking new heater, sensor, source, filter, junction, and cathode designs from customer concept through working prototype and into production. This role involves owning mechanical design and 3D modeling for assemblies with demanding thermal and mechanical performance requirements, building and testing the first prototypes alongside machinists and technicians, and partnering with manufacturing, purchasing, and outside suppliers. It is a hands-on role where engineers are expected to spend time in the shop, understand manufacturing processes, and iterate designs based on test data and feedback. The ideal candidate wants to design, build, test, and improve.

Requirements

Strong 3D modeling — SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, or Solid Edge — including assemblies, configurations, and drawings with GD&T.
Ability to read and interpret assembly drawings, blueprints, and basic electrical schematics.
Thermal application experience — heater systems, temperature sensing, or thermal management.
Strong written communication: clear drawings, FAIs, and technical memos.
Project management discipline: schedule, cost, and risk tracked weekly.
Hands-on by default. Comfortable in safety glasses on a CNC mill, lathe, or assembly bench.
Collaborative with machinists, operators, purchasing, and customers. Treats shop-floor feedback as a primary input, not an interruption.
Curious and learns fast.
Ability to lead design reviews and mentor junior engineers.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with brazing, welding, and ceramics is a strong plus.
Thermal and structural FEA — COMSOL preferred for thermal; ANSYS or Inventor Stress acceptable for mechanical.
Electrical drafting capabilities — AutoCAD Electrical (ACADE) or equivalent is a plus.
Working knowledge of SPC, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 8D problem-solving.

Responsibilities

Review customer requirements: BOMs, 2D & 3D drawings, specifications, and acceptance criteria.
Develop mechanical designs and 3D models (SolidWorks, Inventor, or Solid Edge) for new assemblies and product variants.
Prepare manufacturing drawings, including pre-braze / pre-weld details, GD&T callouts, and finished-part drawings.
Author OMS (Operational Method Sheets): manufacturing process flow, BOM, and work instructions.
Estimate part fabrication and assembly time; contribute to materials and labor costing.
Build and test prototypes hands-on, working directly with the prototype machinist, NPI technicians, and the production shop.
Run prototype testing (thermal cycling, thermal uniformity, dimensional, and functional) and document findings.
Produce First Article Inspection (FAI) reports and own ECR/ECO redlines through the change cycle.
Track project timeline, cost, and risks; keep the project on budget and on schedule; escalate early when it is not.
Spend time on the shop floor. Solicit input from machinists, operators, and quality, and carry that feedback into the next design revision.
Lead full mechanical design for new product families, including stress and thermal analysis.
Own supplier interfaces for machined and brazed parts; negotiate cost and delivery to meet customer requirements.
Run formal design reviews and contribute to customer proposals and technical content.
Mentor Level I and II engineers; review their drawings and FAIs before release.
Build and maintain reusable design libraries, templates, and analysis methods so the team gets faster over time.