Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title

Mechanical Design Engineer – Fremont, CA

The San Francisco Chronicle has recognized Nextpower (Nasdaq: NXT) as one of the Top Workplaces. Join our growing team! This hybrid role (4× per week onsite at headquarters in Fremont, California) is part of the mechanical structures team. The engineer will design steel‑frame components to advance Nextpower’s goal of industry‑wide adoption of steel‑frame technology.

• Contribute to product design and engineering development of Nextpower steel‑frame products.
• Participate in concept development, design, and engineering for new and existing products, focusing on manufacturability, scalability, and cost optimization.
• Use CAD/FEA software to solve mechanical/structural design problems, conduct finite‑element analysis, design optimization, tolerance stack‑ups, prototype generation, fatigue analysis, and produce manufacturing drawings.
• Brainstorm with the mechanical engineering team to identify future design concepts.
• Resolve time‑sensitive manufacturing and production issues that affect product launches and ramp‑ups.
• Partner with global suppliers and tooling partners to validate designs, optimize production processes, and troubleshoot technical challenges.
• Conduct Root Cause Analysis of issues discovered during pilot testing.

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with Solid Works, ePDM, and FEA (ANSYS preferred).
• Strong knowledge of drawings, models, and tolerance standards.
• Understanding of DFM for castings and sheet‑metal stampings.
• Familiarity with GD&T standards and tolerance analysis.
• Experience in mass‑production manufacturing and part validation (stampings/rollings/castings/injection molding).
• Strong mechanical failure‑analysis skills and prototyping knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

• Strong understanding of roll forming.
• Experience in solar, preferably in module or racking design.
• Hands‑on background in prototyping, pilot runs, and production ramp‑up.
• Familiarity with Confluence, Miro (Real‑Time board), and Jira.

Annual salary range: $135,000 – $155,000 (location based). Benefits include health care, dental, vision, 401(K) participation with company match, paid holidays, unlimited paid time off, discretionary bonuses, life and disability protection, and potential stock compensation in accordance with plan documents.

Nextpower is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.