Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Mojave Energy Systems•Sunnyvale, CA

23h•$110,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

Mojave Energy Systems is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to take a significant role in designing and engineering their liquid desiccant air conditioner. Reporting to the Mechanical Design Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for mechanical design and testing of sub-systems and components for a novel HVAC product. The successful candidate should be comfortable overcoming design challenges under deadlines, working across teams, and working independently. This is a rare opportunity to be a part of creating and launching cutting edge technology for a venture-backed climate-tech company at a critical inflection point: we've proven the technology works, we're ramping production, and we need an engineer who can balance innovation with practical manufacturability and field robustness. This is an on-site role in the Anderson/Piedmont/Greenville area of SC or onsite in Sunnyvale, CA.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or relevant field.
3+ years' experience in mechanical design and design for manufacturing.
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks or Onshape preferred).
Strong critical thinking skills: ability to dig deep into cause and effect and complex diagnostics.
Demonstrated ability to communicate across a range of skill levels.
Demonstrated history of hands-on experience in design/build.
Knowledgeable in common manufacturing processes, including sheet metal forming and machining.
Structured problem-solving skills, using inputs such as functional documentation (P&IDs, mechanical drawings) and performance testing data.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or PhD in mechanical engineering or relevant field.
Experience with HVAC, dehumidification, heat pump, or refrigeration systems.
Experience with thermal/fluid simulation (CFD, FEA or 1D system modeling).
Familiarity with HVAC standards (UL, AHRI, ASHRAE).

Responsibilities

Own mechanical design projects across multiple HVAC subsystems, such as fans, heat exchangers, enclosures and chassis, from concept through manufacturing.
Produce production-quality solid models and engineering drawings, including sheet metal and plastic components, in a collaborative CAD environment (Onshape).
Select materials and components that hold up against corrosive fluids, temperature cycling, and lifting loads.
Develop and maintain system-level documentation, including P&IDs and assembly BOMs.
Manage vendors to quote, build and evaluate prototype and production parts, including DFM reviews and first-article inspection.
Design and execute subsystem tests to explore the design space and validate solutions, including system performance and cycle life.
Work closely with controls, electrical and manufacturing teams to integrate subsystems into the full product.
Basic fabrication, assembly, machining, testing, debugging and parts chasing.
Evaluate and improve designs for DFM/DFA, with attention to serviceability and ease of assembly.
Participate in Failure Modes and Effects Analysis across subsystems, covering failure modes such as air leaks, corrosion, degradation and condensate management.