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Posted 3mo ago

Mechanical Design Engineer, Body Structures, Frame (Autonomous Vehicle Team)

@ Foundation Robotics
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San Francisco, California, United States
$115k-$150k/yrOnsiteFull Time
Responsibilities:Design body, Prototype frame, Collaborate engineering
Requirements Summary:5+ years in structural mechanical design; strong 3D CAD; experience with FEA/simulation; fabrication experience; materials knowledge; endure harsh environments.
Technical Tools Mentioned:SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, ANSYS, ADAMS
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Job Description

Why We Are Hiring for This Role:

  • Design and develop the vehicle body and structural architecture to perform across extreme multi-environment conditions—from high-impact off-road shock loads to full water submersion and long-term vibration fatigue
  • Own structural performance from concept through prototype, using FEA and simulation-driven design to rapidly iterate on geometries, reduce material usage, and accelerate development cycles
  • Engineer frame systems that achieve an optimized stiffness-to-weight ratio through thoughtful material selection across steel alloys, aluminum extrusions, and composite structures.
  • Drive rapid prototyping efforts by translating CAD designs into physical builds using CNC machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, and additive manufacturing
  • Design robust joints and interfaces that account for thermal expansion, corrosion between dissimilar metals, and long-term serviceability in harsh environments
  • Collaborate closely with robotics, suspension, and systems engineering to co-develop structural hardpoints, mounting interfaces, and routing pathways as part of a fully integrated vehicle architecture

What Kind of Person We Are Looking For:

  • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and building structural mechanical systems
  • Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or similar), with a disciplined approach to assemblies, tolerancing, and managing complex multi-part systems
  • Experience using FEA and simulation tools (ANSYS, ADAMS, or similar) to inform design decisions, including structural, fatigue, and modal analysis
  • Practical experience with fabrication processes such as welding, machining, and sheet metal—comfortable working between CAD and the shop floor
  • Solid understanding of materials and their trade-offs in structural applications, including strength, fatigue, corrosion resistance, and weight
  • Experience designing for harsh environments, including water exposure, corrosion, and sealing of structural systems
  • Ability to think in systems—designing structures that integrate cleanly with actuators, wiring, fluid systems, and sensors from the outset

Benefits

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

Salary

  • The annual compensation is expected to be between $115,000 - $150,000+. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.