Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Acceler8 Talent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Acceler8Talent partners with a VC-backed AI networking hardware startup in the SF Bay Area to redefine infrastructure for hyperscalers. We seek a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to shape high-performance systems, leading chassis design, tolerance analysis, and EMI/safety-compliant parts development.

You'll create Creo/SolidWorks models, manage BOMs/ECOs, and collaborate across hardware, thermal, CAD, and manufacturing teams, including cooling system design and connector/cable harness work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5–10 years of mechanical design experience in telecom or data center hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design chassis and line card designs meeting reliability and scalability requirements.
• Conduct 2D/3D tolerance studies for electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Design parts using sheet metal, plastic, die-cast, and extrusion with EMI, safety, and compliance considerations.
• Create CAD models, PCB outlines, and detailed drawings; manage BOMs, ECOs, and part numbers.
• Collaborate with hardware, thermal, CAD, and manufacturing teams to align on requirements and risks.
• Design cooling systems (liquid/forced-air) and coordinate with suppliers for manufacturability.
• Support OSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP-XD connector and cable harness design for front panels and backplanes.

Skills

Mechanical design

Tolerance analysis

EMI safety compliance

3D modeling documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Cooling system design

Cable & connector design

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

OSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP-XD connectors

Backplane systems

Job description

Acceler8Talent is proud to partner with a well-funded, VC-backed AI/networking hardware startup in the SF Bay area that’s redefining infrastructure for the world’s largest hyperscalers. Operating under a Joint Development Model (JDM), this company co-develops highly customized networking hardware, software, and optics solutions tailored to the evolving needs of large-scale AI workloads.

With over $600M in funding and rapid expansion underway, they're now looking to hire a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to help shape the next generation of high-performance systems.

Responsibilities:

• Mechanical Design: Develop chassis and line card designs that meet product, reliability, and scalability requirements.
• Tolerance Analysis: Conduct 2D/3D tolerance studies for complex electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Mechanical Solutions: Design parts using sheet metal, plastic, die-cast, and extrusion processes with attention to EMI, safety, and compliance.
• 3D Modeling & Documentation: Create CAD models (preferably in Creo), PCB outlines, and detailed drawings; manage BOMs, ECOs, and part numbers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with hardware, thermal, CAD, and manufacturing teams to align on requirements, solve issues, and manage risks.
• Cooling & Supplier Support: Design cooling systems (liquid/forced-air) and coordinate with suppliers to ensure manufacturability.
• Cable & Connector Design: Support OSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP-XD connector and cable harness design for front panels and backplanes.

Qualifications:

• B.S. or higher in Mechanical Engineering
• 5-10 years of mechanical design experience in telecom or data center hardware

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Creo (preferred) and SolidWorks
• Strong understanding of EIA, ETSI, and OCP rack standards
• Experience with OSFP/QSFP-DD/OSFP-XD connectors and backplane systems
• Skilled in tolerancing for complex electro-mechanical assemblies
• Familiar with NEBS testing and compliance (a plus)

Hands-On Experience:

• Mechanical design using sheet metal, molding, casting, and extrusion
• Cable harness and cooling system (liquid/air) design
• Comfortable with rework tools and mock-up fabrication