Mechanical Engineer

GridLights; Houston (TX); Remote; USD 65,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in electric lighting equipment manufacturing is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join their team. The role involves refining designs for innovative lighting systems, ensuring manufacturability, and collaborating with engineers on electromechanical integration. Ideal candidates should have experience in mechanical design and be proficient in CAD software. This contract position allows for remote work or Houston-based collaboration.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years experience in mechanical design, preferably in consumer or lighting products.
• Fluent in CAD software such as Fusion 360 or SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

• Refine and finalize sheet metal profiles for manufacturing.
• Design and test extruded aluminum profiles for future production.
• Prepare manufacturing-ready 3D CAD and part drawings.

Skills

Mechanical Design

CAD

Sheet Metal Design

Extrusion Design

Prototyping

Tools

Fusion 360

SolidWorks

Job description

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Location: Remote or Houston-based preferred

Type: Contract / Freelance (20 hrs/month)

Start: Immediate

Duration: 2–3 months to start, with potential for extension

Mechanical Engineer (Contract)

Location: Remote or Houston-based preferred

Type: Contract / Freelance (20 hrs/month)

Start: Immediate

Duration: 2–3 months to start, with potential for extension

About the Role

GridLights is building a modular, intelligent lighting system designed specifically for drop ceilings — transforming overlooked architectural surfaces into expressive, ambient, and responsive platforms. We’re seeking a mechanical engineer to join our small, high-output team during a critical hardware refinement phase.

You’ll be responsible for translating concept-level industrial design and functional constraints into real, manufacturable parts that look beautiful, install cleanly, and scale efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Refine and finalize sheet metal profiles (aluminum or steel)
• Design and test extruded aluminum profiles for future production
• Contribute to mounting mechanics (magnet/clip, ceiling grid compatibility)
• Solve for board-to-board and wire-to-board connector clearances
• Develop enclosure parts (controller box, sensor mounts, hub shrouds)
• Prototype and iterate electromechanical integration with PCBs and LED elements
• Prepare manufacturing-ready 3D CAD and part drawings
• Collaborate with firmware and electrical engineers on electromechanical interface points
• Optionally assist with sourcing, vendor communication, and small-batch tooling decisions

Requirements

• 3–5+ years experience in mechanical design, preferably in consumer or lighting products
• Fluent in CAD (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or similar)
• Strong grasp of sheet metal and extrusion design principles
• Understanding of DFM / DFA for small-scale production
• Experience working with PCB enclosure constraints
• Sensitivity to both functional and aesthetic design goals
• Able to prototype quickly and think through physical assembly logic

Bonus Experience

• Familiarity with lighting, fixtures, or architectural hardware
• Experience with low-volume manufacturing (maker spaces, short runs, jigs)
• Knowledge of thermal management, optics, or sensor integration
• Comfortable contributing on-site at our Houston workshop (if local)

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract / Freelance

Job function

• Engineering and Information Technology

Industries

• Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing

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