Mechanical Design Engineer - Power Systems

Lightship; Little Canada (MN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare, Dental, Vision

401k

Flexible Paid Time Off

13 Company Holidays

12 weeks paid parental leave

Yearly LightTrip stipend

Job summary

Lightship, a US-based all-electric RV pioneer, seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer to lead mechanical and electrical hardware development for solar systems in our all-electric trailers. You will own CAD/BOM, perform DFMEA, and build prototypes with a hands-on, cross-functional team.

Ideal candidates bring 2+ years in design engineering, experience with CATIA (3DX) and CAD/PLM systems, and the ability to navigate rapid iteration cycles while ensuring safety and reliability in automotive-like

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of industry design engineering experience.
• Experience with CAD/PLM/PDM systems.
• Creating 3D CAD and drawings for electrical hardware components (cast/injection molded housings, busbars, wire harnesses, insulators, switches).

Responsibilities

• Work with Product and Design teams to develop high level product requirements.
• Create tolerance stack analyses and apply GD&T controls to 3D geometries.
• Own the CAD & BOM for solar & related subsystems.
• Perform DFMEA to highlight reliability and safety issues.
• Build functional prototypes of subsystems for de-risking.
• Collaborate with test engineering to troubleshoot HALT- and vehicle-level failures.
• Partner with supply chain for sourcing parts and materials.

Skills

CAD/PLM/PDM systems

Rapid iteration cycles

3D CAD drawings for electrical parts

Materials selection for electrical HW

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA 3DX

CAD tools

Job description

Overview

Lightship is the first American all-electric recreational vehicle manufacturer currently developing an aerodynamic, battery-powered trailer for the electric age. As the macro transition to an all-electric transportation ecosystem accelerates, Lightship is bringing the increased convenience and superior performance that electrification offers to a pastime enjoyed by over 11 million American families.

Honoring Diverse Perspectives

Lightship is committed to hiring and developing top talent from diverse backgrounds. We believe representing and supporting diverse groups is key to the success of our team members, customers, shareholders and the achievement of our mission and vision. We operate in a collaborative environment with a flat organizational structure and expect a high degree of integrity, autonomy and creativity from all members of the team.

About The Role

As a Mechanical Design Engineer you will serve as a hands on technical lead for multiple power systems, primarily our all-electric RV’s Solar System. You will be responsible for supporting continuous development and testing of the solar arrays, related junction boxes, harnessing, charge controllers and circuit protection. With a small team, you'll also help dive into development on other Power Systems components, including power distribution modules, mounting brackets, electronics enclosures, and selecting off the shelf electronics components.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Product and Design teams to develop high level product requirements
• Create tolerance stack analyses and apply appropriate GD&T controls to 3D geometries
• Own the CAD & BOM for solar & related subsystems
• Perform Design Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (DFMEA) to highlight reliability and safety issues
• Build functional prototypes of subsystems to ensure early de-risking before full vehicle builds
• Work with the test engineering team to troubleshoot issues from highly accelerated life testing (HALT) and vehicle level test failures
• Partner with supply chain for sourcing parts, components, and materials

Candidate Characteristics

The ability to approach challenges with flexibility and creativity

Solutions-oriented, with a focus on progress and impact over perfection

Willingness to operate effectively at both strategic and hands-on levels

Excellent communication, presentation, coordination skills & curiosity

Minimum Qualifications

B.S. or higher degree in an engineering field, preferably Mechanical Engineering

2+ years industry design engineering experience

Experience with the following:

• CAD/PLM/PDM systems
• Rapid iteration cycles
• Creating 3D CAD and drawings for electrical hardware components (cast/injection molded housings, busbars, wire harnesses, insulators, switches etc).
• Selecting appropriate materials for electrical hardware, including plastics, metals, polymers and ceramics
• Creating design validation plans for electrical hardware & mechanical assemblies

Preferred Qualifications

• High voltage power distribution systems
• Experience with solar arrays
• Experience designing wire harnesses (high voltage and low voltage)
• Experience with CATIA (3DX)
• Experience with structural analysis (basic stress/strain and modal analysis)
• Experience with designing for automotive environments
• Experience with DFM/DFA analysis

Equity

Lightship compensation consists of the yearly salary above plus equity, which gives you a stake in the company

Employee Benefits & Philosophy - Applies to Full Time Employees only

• Healthcare, Dental, Vision
• 401k
• Flexible Paid Time Off - that we actually want you to use!
• 13 Company Holidays: 8 throughout the year + the company observes a week of scheduled downtime during the end of the year, allowing all employees to enjoy a break
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Yearly LightTrip stipend for an RV trip &/or professional development opportunities

Benefits Statement

Lightship offers all of its full time employees and their dependents full benefits including health, dental and vision insurance. We are on a mission to create a more healthful all-electric experience for a pastime that millions of families enjoy and believe strongly that our team should not have to worry about quality healthcare for themselves or their loved ones along the way.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.