Precision Mechanical Engineer (UHV/Nanometer Motion)

Substrate Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Disability accommodations

Job summary

Substrate is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design and develop ultra-high vacuum systems and nanometer-precision mechatronic devices for advanced manufacturing in the semiconductor space.

You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and vendors across multiple sites, supporting autonomous production workstreams and distributed deployments. This full-time, on-site role offers opportunities to shape national tech leadership.

Qualifications

• 6+ years hands-on mechanical engineering experience, 3+ years in precision manufacturing or research environments at technology companies.
• Expert-level CAD experience with complex precision assembly design and UHV-compatible components.
• Direct experience with finite element analysis (FEA) for stress/strain calculations in high-acceleration mechatronic applications.
• Strong background in vacuum technology, UHV system design, and vacuum-compatible materials.
• Cross-functional collaboration experience supporting autonomous technical contributors.
• Built precision mechanical systems from concept through production in scaling technology environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze UHV-compatible mechanical systems, components, and assemblies for state-of-the-art production facilities across distributed operational environments.
• Develop nanometer-precision mechatronic systems for high-speed, high-acceleration applications.
• Conduct structural analysis, vibration and thermal modeling, and FEA stress/strain calculations for high-acceleration mechatronic systems deployed in multiple locations.
• Design vacuum-compatible mechanical assemblies and wafer handling robotics supporting autonomous production workstreams.
• Build and execute comprehensive testing protocols including UHV validation, precision measurement, and performance characterization for field deployments.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers and software teams on integrated mechatronic system design across parallel technical contributions.
• Implement vibration damping techniques and precision isolation systems for distributed production environments.
• Lead technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis for mechanical failures in systems across multiple installation sites.
• Develop manufacturing processes and work directly with specialized vendors for precision components and vacuum-compatible materials.
• Support external site installations and provide technical guidance for UHV production facility deployments.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for precision mechanical systems across fluid organizational structures.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

CAD

FEA

Vacuum technology

Cross-functional collaboration

Autonomous work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

FEA software

Job description

Substrate is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design and develop ultra-high vacuum systems and nanometer-precision mechatronic devices for advanced manufacturing in the semiconductor space.

You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and vendors across multiple sites, supporting autonomous production workstreams and distributed deployments. This full-time, on-site role offers opportunities to shape national tech leadership.