Mechanical Engineer

Western Magnetics; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Westmag in the United States is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical design of drone motors and robotic actuators. You will own rotating machinery, bearings, gears, and transmissions, balancing performance, weight, and cost while ensuring parts can be built at scale.

You will collaborate with Cross-functional teams to ensure feasibility, manufacturability, and customer requirements, and support prototyping, testing, and validation across the product line.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in mechanical design, preferably in drone, robotics, automotive, aerospace, or high-volume electromechanical products.
• Industry experience with rotating machinery, including bearings, gears, or transmissions.
• Hands-on knowledge of metal manufacturing methods such as milling, turning, stamping, and casting.
• Demonstrated experience with DFM/A designing high-volume products.
• Proficiency with CAD tools for mechanical design (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape), including GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize the mechanical architecture of motors and actuators, including shafts, housings, bearing systems, gears, and transmissions.
• Perform structural, tolerance stack-up, fatigue, and bearing support analyses to ensure durability and precision across the product's operating envelope.
• Drive DFM/A from the earliest concepts, engineering parts for high-volume production where manufacturability is as critical as performance.
• Explore high volume manufacturing methods such as stamping and casting working with suppliers to ensure designs are producible, repeatable, and cost-effective at scale.
• Create detailed CAD models, GD&T-based drawings, and design documentation for components and assemblies.
• Work cross-functionally with Motor Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and Field Applications Engineers to ensure design feasibility, manufacturability, and customer requirements are met.
• Support prototyping, testing, and validation of new designs, and drive continuous improvement across the product line.

Skills

Problem-solving

Analytical

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Onshape

GD&T

Job description

About Westmag

Westmag is the American manufacturer of drone motors and robot actuators, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, NFDG, Menlo Ventures, and other top investors. Westmag is committed to building and scaling in the U.S. to serve the global market. For more information, visit westmag.com.

About the role

As a Mechanical Engineer at Westmag, you will lead the mechanical design of the drone motors and robotic actuators at the heart of our products. You will own the rotating machinery, bearing systems, gears, and transmissions that turn electromagnetic torque into reliable mechanical output, balancing performance, weight, and cost. Working at the intersection of design and production, you will ensure every part you draw can be built at scale, and your work will directly shape Westmag's ability to ship millions of motors and actuators from U.S. factories.

What you'll own

• Design and optimize the mechanical architecture of motors and actuators, including shafts, housings, bearing systems, gears, and transmissions.
• Perform structural, tolerance stack-up, fatigue, and bearing support analyses to ensure durability and precision across the product's operating envelope.
• Drive DFM/A from the earliest concepts, engineering parts for high-volume production where manufacturability is as critical as performance.
• Explore high volume manufacturing methods such as stamping and casting working with suppliers to ensure designs are producible, repeatable, and cost-effective at scale.
• Create detailed CAD models, GD&T-based drawings, and design documentation for components and assemblies.
• Work cross-functionally with Motor Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and Field Applications Engineers to ensure design feasibility, manufacturability, and customer requirements are met.
• Support prototyping, testing, and validation of new designs, and drive continuous improvement across the product line.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in mechanical design, preferably in drone, robotics, automotive, aerospace, or high-volume electromechanical products.
• Industry experience with rotating machinery, including bearings, gears, or transmissions.
• Hands-on knowledge of metal manufacturing methods such as milling, turning, stamping, and casting.
• Demonstrated experience with DFM/A designing high-volume products.
• Proficiency with CAD tools for mechanical design (e.g., SolidWorks, Onshape), including GD&T.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with electromagnetism and electric motor fundamentals.
• Experience with rotor dynamics, thermal analysis, or NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness).
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes for motor and actuator components and assemblies.
• Hands-on experience with prototype testing, validation, and design iteration in a production environment.