Staff Mechanical Engineer, Suspension (Autonomous Vehicle Team)

Foundation • San Francisco, CA

32d • $175,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Own suspension system development end-to-end: concept, CAD design, simulation, testing, and validation for off-road electric ATVs.
Suspension analysis including kinematics, compliance, ride & handling, durability, and off-road performance optimization.
Design and iterate suspension components (arms, dampers, bushings, linkages, mounts, etc.) in CAD with manufacturability and serviceability in mind.
Support prototype builds and field testing, diagnosing and resolving mechanical issues quickly.
Document designs, analyses, and validation results to ensure clear handoff to manufacturing and future iterations

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in suspension design, testing, or vehicle dynamics (off-road, automotive, powersports, or defense preferred)
• Hands-on experience with suspension testing (rig tests, durability, vibration, ride/handling) and data analysis
• Familiarity with structural analysis (FEA for static, fatigue, and crash loads)
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, kinematics, and compliance tuning
• Ability to design for rugged, off-road environments (shock, vibration, corrosion, and dirt/water ingress considerations)
• Experience with chassis frame design, weldment design, and lightweight structures
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field
• Experience with suspension analysis tools (e.g., Adams Car, Simpack, Matlab)
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, or equivalent) for suspension and chassis design

Responsibilities

• Own suspension system development end-to-end: concept, CAD design, simulation, testing, and validation for off-road electric ATVs.
• Suspension analysis including kinematics, compliance, ride & handling, durability, and off-road performance optimization.
• Design and iterate suspension components (arms, dampers, bushings, linkages, mounts, etc.) in CAD with manufacturability and serviceability in mind.
• Support prototype builds and field testing, diagnosing and resolving mechanical issues quickly.
• Document designs, analyses, and validation results to ensure clear handoff to manufacturing and future iterations

Benefits

• We provide market standard benefits (health, vision, dental, 401k, etc.). Join us for the culture and the mission, not for the benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level