Mechanical Engineering Design Lead

IDEO; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

401K matching

Parental Leave

Flexible Work

Paid Holidays

Annual Education Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Job summary

IDEO is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer in San Francisco to guide physical product development across industries. You will lead design efforts, mentor teams, and collaborate with research, design, and business stakeholders to shape project direction.

The role emphasizes rapid prototyping, DFM/DFMA, and translating form to function while advancing sustainability and lifecycle analyses. Flexible work arrangements are available in a commute-friendly setting.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or product design.
• Proven ability to guide product development through ambiguous problem spaces.
• Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and rapid prototyping.
• Experience launching products and sourcing key manufacturing partners.
• Leadership and production experience with complex mechanism design.
• Packaging understanding and sustainability considerations.
• Knowledge of injection molded plastic parts and DFM/DFMA.
• Proof of concept and research prototyping experience.
• Mentoring junior designers and leading small teams.
• Experience in startups or client-service studios with systems thinking.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design efforts from concept to implementation.
• Be the technical voice translating form to function on teams.
• Elevate climate goals and sustainability through 0–1 development and LCA.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide manufacturers and tooling.
• Present design direction via CAD, prototypes, and visuals.
• Collaborate with research, design, and business stakeholders on strategy.
• Build, test, and iterate high-fidelity prototypes using printers and tools.
• Contribute to user research during concepting and pilot phases.
• Represent IDEO in client communications, workshops, and presentations.

Skills

3D CAD

Rapid prototyping

Leadership

Sourcing manufacturing

Design for manufacturing

Medical devices knowledge

Startup experience

Visual storytelling

Tools

SolidWorks

Adobe Creative Suite

CNC machining

Laser cutting

Job description

Lead Mechanical Engineer – San Francisco, CA

At IDEO, we use design to create new products, services, experiences, tangible strategies, and creative capabilities.

IDEO is in search of a Lead Mechanical Engineer to guide and shape the work of our world‑class interdisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep industry knowledge of product development lifecycles & maintenance; a drive to iterate quickly through prototyping; and an inclusive collaboration style. This hire will have the unique opportunity to help evolve IDEO’s practice of engineering high‑impact physical products, building on our diverse network of Design Directors, Partners, and Business Leaders.

In a Nutshell:

The Lead Mechanical Engineer is directly responsible for leading physical product development efforts for our exceptionally creative clients across industries.

We are especially excited to meet candidates with exceptional project management skills; visual storytelling abilities; a drive to get tangible by prototyping in both digital and physical realms; and a grounding in core design for manufacturing (DFM) principles and practices.

This hire must be within a commutable distance of IDEO’s San San Francisco studio. IDEO proudly supports flexible work.

Once here you will:

• Lead and manage mechanical design efforts on complex projects from concept to implementation.
• Be the key technical voice on multi‑disciplinary teams, translating between form and function.
• Elevate clients’ climate goals and sustainability best practices through 0‑1 physical product development, materials science research, and life cycle analysis (LCA).
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and designers in the craft of physical product realization, sourcing partner manufacturers, and design for manufacturing principles.
• Present design direction through CAD, physical prototypes, and visual storytelling.
• Partner with research, design, and business stakeholders to define project strategies and product direction.
• Build, test, and iterate high‑fidelity functional prototypes using 3D printers and machine tools.
• Contribute to and occasionally lead user research throughout concepting and pilot production phases.
• These may include in‑home visits, ethnographic diary studies, qualitative/quantitative survey analysis, or other participatory workshop activities.
• Represent IDEO in client communications, workshops, and presentations.

Qualifications / Experience:

• 5–7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or product design.
• Proven ability to guide product development through ambiguous problem spaces.
• Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred), Adobe Creative Suite, and rapid physical prototyping tools beyond 3D printing (machining, CNC lasercutting, foamcore, paper prototyping, etc.).
• Experience launching products and sourcing key manufacturing partners.
• Professional leadership & production experience with one or more of the following:
• Complex Mechanism Design: proven ability to design, test, and develop robust mechanisms for products like medical devices or consumer electronics.
• Packaging: understanding basic structural packaging design and sustainability considerations.
• Health and Life Sciences Products: usability and functionality with a focus on ergonomics and medical‑specific requirements.
• Injection Molded Plastic Part Design: knowledge of tooling approaches to aid in part design, including awareness of techniques like overmolding.
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly: understanding of trade‑offs and decisions needed when designing a product for mass production.
• Proof of Concept Prototyping: functional prototypes to explore a key design challenge and prove something is technically feasible.
• Research Model Prototyping: prototyping to create different models to elicit user feedback during research sessions.
• Experience mentoring junior designers and leading small teams.
• Experience working in startups or client‑service studios, and a systems‑thinking mindset.

Nice‑to‑have Skills:

• A leading craft edge in one or more of the following skills…
• Storytelling tools such as photography, videography.

Salary & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity. We support the holistic well‑being of our community by providing a thoughtfully designed benefits package.

The salary range for this role is $110,000–$130,000 USD. This range is influenced by a wide range of factors considered in compensation decisions at IDEO. This includes, but is not limited to: skills, industry knowledge, and experience. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on candidate experience, expertise, and other factors.

In addition to base compensation, IDEO offers a rich benefits package including the following:

• Health Benefits: Vision, Dental, Healthcare.
• Financial Benefits: 401K matching.
• Family & Caregiving: Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Assistance, Transgender Medical Assistance, Breastmilk shipment, Back‑up/Dependent Care, Pet Insurance.
• Other Benefits: Flexible Work, Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays, Annual Education Stipend, Home Office Stipend.

Commitment to Diversity

At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world‑changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research.

As a human‑centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio‑economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.