Mechanical Engineer - New Grad (December 2026)

applied; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Intuition, Inc. is seeking a new graduate Mechanical Engineer in Sunnyvale, CA to contribute across the product design lifecycle for self-driving vehicle hardware.

You will work on sensors, mechanical design, and validation, supporting testing and documentation in a hands-on lab environment. The role targets graduates by December 2026 and emphasizes CAD, FEA/CAE, and practical hardware experience, with in-office expectations and occasional flexibility.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering by December 2026.
• Hands-on build team experience (Formula SAE, Baja, etc.).
• Experience designing/building physical hardware.
• CAD experience to navigate/modify 3D models (SolidWorks preferred).
• Exposure to FEA/CAE through coursework/projects.
• Strong hands-on shop skills in a lab/garage setting.
• Ability to write clear technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support mechanical engineering development of Applied Vehicles.
• Contribute to external sensor suite, compute assembly, and interior design.
• Perform structural/thermal analysis of designs.
• Assist design/validation at component to vehicle level.
• Design for scalability and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with engineers to fabricate/test fixtures.
• Perform incoming quality control on hardware.
• Set up devices under test and run scripts.
• Produce documentation for test, maintenance, and processes.

Skills

CAD (SolidWorks)

FEA/CAE

Hands-on machining

Technical writing

Python scripting

Mechanical design

Education

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering

Coursework in hardware design

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a new grad Mechanical Engineer at Applied, you will be an integral part of the entire product design lifecycle. Your technical contributions will directly impact the requirements, design, integration, and validation/verification of our self-driving vehicles. You will support the testing and evaluation of sensors such as cameras, radars, and lidars, and you will develop hardware built to survive the harsh environments our vehicles operate in.

This role is open to candidates who graduated in summer 2026 or will graduate by the end of 2026.

AT APPLIED INTUITION, YOU WILL:

• Support the mechanical engineering development of Applied Vehicles

• Contribute to the mechanical design of the external sensor suite, compute assembly, and vehicle interior

• Perform structural and thermal analysis of mechanical designs

• Support the design, analysis, and validation of systems at the component, assembly, and fully integrated vehicle level

• Design with a focus on scalability and manufacturability

• Work directly with engineers to design, fabricate, and assemble custom test fixtures

• Perform incoming quality control on design hardware, including visual inspection, pressure testing, and firmware flashing

• Set up devices under test and execute test scripts provided by test engineers

• Produce detailed documentation for test, maintenance, safety, and team processes

• Work cross-functionally to ensure requirements and mechanical designs meet the needs of teams across the organization

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS:

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent program, completed by December 2026

• Formula SAE, Baja, solar car, rocketry, robotics, or similar hands-on build team experience

• Coursework, internship, research, or project experience designing and building physical hardware

• Familiarity using CAD to navigate, design, or modify 3D models (SolidWorks preferred)

• Exposure to FEA/CAE through coursework or projects

• Strong hands-on shop skills and a willingness to work in a lab and vehicle garage environment

• Ability to write clear technical documentation

NICE TO HAVE:

• Hands-on machining, CNC, metalworking, or welding experience

• Experience with hardware reliability and testing

• Automotive repair and maintenance experience

• Exposure to AV components — lidar, radar, cameras

• Experience designing, drawing, or prototyping custom harness cable

• NVH experience

• Basic scripting (Python) for test execution and data capture

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES:

Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact [e-mail]. We will work with you!