Mechanical Design Engineer (Senior to Staff)

Company Overview

Driven by our vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid of the future, Mainspring has developed a new category of power generation — the linear generator — that delivers local, scalable, and fuel-flexible power to help accelerate the transition to the net-zero carbon grid.

The unique combination of attributes offered by Mainspring’s linear generator enables applications on both the commercial and utility sides of the meter for the $816B global electricity equipment market. We serve a wide range of Fortune 500 customers across markets and industries as well as top-tier utilities and other gridside providers.

We are looking to build relationships with people who share our values:

• Pragmatic Optimism. Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.
• Excellence without Ego. We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.
• Proactive Collaboration. The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.

Mainspring is based in Menlo Park and has partnered with top-tier investors and utilities such as Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, NextEra, and American Electric Power. More information can be found at www.mainspringenergy.com.

Responsibilities

Mainspring Energy is seeking a talented Senior or Staff Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design and development of a next-generation exhaust system for our innovative Linear Generator technology. This challenging role requires creativity and a broad range of skills to make a significant impact on our clean energy solution.

• Lead the full product development lifecycle of exhaust subsystems, including design, 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks), engineering analysis (FEA/CFD tools like ANSYS), testing, and comprehensive documentation
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Electrical Engineering, Controls, Manufacturing, Suppliers) to ensure seamless subsystem integration, performance, and new product introduction (DFM/DFA, work instructions, tooling/fixtures)
• Plan and execute rigorous verification and validation testing to ensure designs meet all requirements (functional, durability, safety, reliability)
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and technicians, and contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering processes, tools, standards, and best practices
• Stay current on advancements in mechanical engineering relevant to power generation, and identify opportunities to reduce cost, improve performance, and increase reliability as Mainspring scales its technology
• Uphold and further Mainspring's mission to create clean, affordable, and reliable power generators that accelerate the world's transition to a sustainable energy future

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar field
• 7+ years as a professional mechanical design engineer, delivering products as a technical lead through 2+ full design lifecycles from concept to manufacturing support, preferably in industrial equipment, power generation, or electromechanical machines
• Self-starter with a proven ability to deliver functional designs in a rapid development environment and a track record of innovation and continuous improvement
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks preferred), engineering drawing creation (GD&T), and experience with PDM or similar CAD version control system
• Knowledge of mechanical design principles, materials, manufacturing processes (sheet metal, welding, casting), and ability to identify and resolve design for manufacturability issues
• Hands-on mechanical prototyping, assembly, testing skills, and experience with mechanical engineering analysis tools (FEA, CFD, thermal analysis, tolerance stack-ups)
• Excellent problem-solving, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration skills for effective cross-functional teamwork
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate leadership and mentoring abilities
• Passion for clean energy and commitment to creating a more sustainable world

The Bay Area salary for this role is $130k-$195k base + pre-IPO stock options + benefits. This position is on-site in Menlo Park, CA. The salary will be adjusted based on the experience of the employee.

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.