Junior Product Development Engineer

Sheetak, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheetak builds thermoelectric cooling and heating systems, from development kits to custom production hardware. We are looking for a junior engineer who wants to build things, not just design them on a screen.

You will work directly with our Product Manager on new product ideas, customer prototypes, and custom applications, taking projects from a rough concept to a working, testable prototype. This hands-on, generalist role spans mechanical design, fabrication, firmware and electronics,

Qualifications

• Mechanical design project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics) with a CAD portfolio.
• Strong 3D CAD skills and a portfolio of designed and printed parts.
• Comfortable in a machine shop and able to run a mill or lathe.
• Solid coding and firmware background (Arduino/C-family).
• Willing to do hands-on assembly work, both mechanical and electronic.
• Self-directed and able to pick up new tools quickly.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical parts and fixtures in 3D CAD for new product concepts and custom customer applications.
• Build and test physical prototypes: 3D printing, and machining on a mill or lathe when needed.
• Get prototypes working end to end: wire it up, load firmware, get it running on the bench.
• Do electronic assembly and prototyping: soldering, wiring harnesses, board bring‑up, bench debugging.
• Iterate fast on customer‑specific rigs and one‑off builds, often with limited specs and a lot of ambiguity.
• Track parts, timelines, and outside vendors for the builds you own.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD

Firmware development

Arduino

Hands-on assembly

Self-directed

Tools

3D printer

CNC milling

Soldering

Job description

Sheetak builds thermoelectric cooling and heating systems, from development kits to custom production hardware. We are looking for a junior engineer who wants to build things, not just design them on a screen. You will work directly with our Product Manager on new product ideas, customer prototypes, and custom applications, taking projects from a rough concept to a working, testable prototype. This is a hands‑on, generalist role: mechanical design, fabrication, firmware and electronics, assembly, and light project management on your own builds, all in the same week.

What You Will Do

• Design mechanical parts and fixtures in 3D CAD for new product concepts and custom customer applications.
• Build and test physical prototypes: 3D printing, and machining on a mill or lathe when needed.
• Get prototypes working end to end: wire it up, load firmware, get it running on the bench.
• Do electronic assembly and prototyping: soldering, wiring harnesses, board bring‑up, bench debugging.
• Iterate fast on customer‑specific rigs and one‑off builds, often with limited specs and a lot of ambiguity.
• Track parts, timelines, and outside vendors for the builds you own.

What You Need

• Mechanical design project experience (a college team project such as Formula SAE, robotics, or rocketry counts).
• Strong 3D CAD skills and a portfolio of designed and printed parts.
• Comfortable in a machine shop: can run a mill or lathe when a job calls for it.
• Solid coding and firmware background (Arduino/C‑family experience is a good sign).
• Willing to do hands‑on assembly work, both mechanical and electronic.
• Self‑directed and comfortable picking up new tools without a lot of hand‑holding.

No project management or industry experience required — just a strong CAD portfolio, hands‑on instincts, and the drive to see a build through from concept to working prototype.