Mechanical Design Engineer

D24 Search; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

D24 Search is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer for autonomous robotic systems deployed in real data-centre environments. You will own mechanical subsystems from concept to prototype, with fast iteration in-house.

The role requires CAD proficiency, hands-on fabrication, and collaboration with electrical and software teams. On-site in San Francisco, you will ship hardware that moves from demos to infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build prototypes from concept to working hardware.
• Proficient in CAD with SolidWorks or Fusion 360.
• 2-5 years of mechanical design experience in robotic or hardware systems.
• Experience in a hardware startup or hands-on engineering team (FSAE, robotics club).
• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on fabrication: 3D printing, CNC machining, shop tools.
• Willing to work on-site in San Francisco, CA.
• Authorized to work in the US; no visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical subsystem design from first sketch through prototype and iteration, making decisions on materials, tolerances, and manufacturing methods.
• Design parts and assemblies in CAD, supported by hand calculations and FEA, optimized for rapid prototyping methods including 3D printing and CNC machining.
• Build prototypes yourself using 3D printers, shop tools, and CNC equipment - turning designs into physical hardware quickly.
• Integrate mechanical designs with motors, sensors, electronics, and actuators on robotic arms and mobile bases.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, software, and robotics teams to bring complete autonomous systems together for production deployment.

Skills

Prototype hardware

CAD proficiency

Ownership

Robotics hardware

Mechatronics

FEA/topology optimization

Fabrication

Startup experience

End-to-end ownership

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Job description

My client builds general intelligent robots for highly dexterous industrial tasks - starting with data centre operations like GPU repairs, precision cabling, and SSD replacements for hyperscalers like Meta, Google, Oracle, and Microsoft.

Hardware is designed and manufactured in-house, so you'll iterate fast with a tight-knit team that values ownership and autonomy. They're solving genuinely hard robotics problems that actually ship to production environments.

We are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer with 2-8 years of experience to own mechanical subsystems from concept through working prototype on autonomous robotic systems deployed in real data centre environments. You'll join a tight-knit, in-house hardware team where iteration, fabrication, and execution all happen under one roof.

This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives at the intersection of CAD and the shop floor - designing, building, breaking, and iterating on real hardware that makes robots stop being demos and start being infrastructure. If you have a strong portfolio of complete systems taken from concept to physical prototype and love moving fast on hard problems, this is your opportunity.

What will you be doing?

• Own mechanical subsystem design from first sketch through prototype and iteration, making decisions on materials, tolerances, and manufacturing methods
• Design parts and assemblies in CAD, supported by hand calculations and FEA, optimized for rapid prototyping methods including 3D printing and CNC machining
• Build prototypes yourself using 3D printers, shop tools, and CNC equipment - turning designs into physical hardware quickly
• Integrate mechanical designs with motors, sensors, electronics, and actuators on robotic arms and mobile bases
• Collaborate closely with electrical, software, and robotics teams to bring complete autonomous systems together for production deployment

Requirements

• Built physical prototypes from concept to working hardware (e. g. , robotics, aerospace, consumer hardware)
• Proficient in CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent)
• 2 - 5 years of experience in mechanical design engineering for robotic or hardware systems
• Experience at a hardware startup or hands- on engineering team (FSAE, robotics club, etc. )
• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Hands- on fabrication: 3D printing, CNC machining, shop tools
• Takes ownership of subsystems end- to- end without waiting for direction
Worked on mechatronic systems integrating motors, sensors, or actuators
• Experience with FEA or topology optimization
Must work on- site in San Francisco, CA full- time
• No visa sponsorship; must be authorized to work in the US