Senior Mechanical Engineer

Planted Solar; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Planted Solar in Oakland is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to design machines, robots, and structures, leading the development cycle from concept through first build. You will work with a cross‑functional engineering team from varied backgrounds on challenging hardware projects.

The salary range for this full‑time position is $125,000 - $165,000 plus stock and benefits. Pay is based on candidate experience, job‑specific skills, education, and work location.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar.
• Experience in industry in structural, mechanical analysis.
• Hands on aptitude and ability to troubleshoot issues.
• Ability to generate ideas and execute them.
• Desire to work in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Ideate novel solutions from system level to part design.
• Design and develop automated equipment and mechanical structures.
• Own challenging design projects from conception to delivery and assembly.
• Develop system‑level requirements and inform product architecture.
• Develop structural and mechanical analyses.
• Oversee hardware through test and deployment.
• Develop and track project schedules.

Skills

Hands on aptitude

Idea generation

Execution

Desire to work in a startup

Experience in structural mechanical分析

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar

Job description

Join the team changing how power gets built.

If you’re motivated by hard engineering and infrastructure development problems with visible, lasting impact, you belong at Planted .

The world needs new solar built about five times faster than the industry has ever managed. Planted is building the system that closes that gap: software, robots, and hardware that put more power in the ground, faster. Every project we deploy brings abundant, affordable energy closer to reality.

Our team spent years building physical infrastructure and watched time and complexity pile up between first concept and commercial operation. So we rebuilt the process as one system, with design connected directly to robots in the field. Nobody has done what we do before. The work is tangible: at the end of a deployment, you stand in a field and see the power plant your work made real.

Autonomous machinery runs alongside crews every day. Anyone can stop any operation, and that call outranks the schedule.

#2

Great work here compounds. Build the tool, write the doc, and give the next person a head start; wins get celebrated by name, with credit shared widely.

#3

Commitment is the product

"I'll find out by Thursday" beats a confident guess, but once you name Thursday, Thursday is real. Problems get named while they're small, and changes get heard early, with a plan.

#4

Convention isn't evidence

"Industry standard" is not a reason; most conventions came from constraints that no longer exist. Physics and the law are the limits; everything else is a choice, and we get to make it.

#5

One owner, final call

Every decision has one owner, and you get handed problems, not tasks. Bring your data, argue it in the room, then let the owner call it and move on.

#6

Machines do the toil

Office and field work on the same logic: if AI, software, or robots can do the task better or cheaper, a person shouldn't be doing it.

Open roles

Senior Mechanical Engineer

The world needs 3 TW of new solar capacity every year. The legacy approach of developing and building infrastructure is mathematically incapable of catching up.

Planted is the autonomous power deployment company. We transform power plants from bespoke construction projects into manufactured products. By integrating planning software, high-density arrays, energy storage, and field robots, we deliver more power where it's needed most.

The physics are solved; what remains is relentless execution. Led by repeat founders and an engineering core from SpaceX and Tesla, we are backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Piva Capital, Google, Gigascale Capital, Khosla Ventures, and RA Capital Management.

We’re scaling fast and looking for operators and engineers who want to own real pieces of the system. You don't need a traditional energy background; we care whether you can finish hard things. Come build with us.

About The Role

As an integral part of the R+D team you will design machines, robots, and structures. Lead the development design cycle from concept ideation through first build. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with a cross-functional engineering team with a highly talented group of engineers from varied backgrounds.

The salary range for this full-time position is $125,000 - $165,000 plus stock and benefits. Pay within the range is based on candidate experience, job‑specific skills, education, and work location. The target experience for the position is 5+ years

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ideate novel solutions to challenging problems - from the system level to individual part design
• Design and develop automated equipment and mechanical structure, both major changes and from scratch
• Own challenging design projects from product development and delivery through conception, design, and assembly
• Develop system‑level requirements and inform product architecture
• Develop structural and mechanical analyses
• Oversee hardware through test and deployment
• Develop and track to project schedules

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar
• Experience in industry in structural, mechanical analysis
• Hands on aptitude – able to dive in and troubleshoot issues
• Idea generation and execution
• Desire to work in a startup environment

Philosophy On Qualifications And Compensation

Many people only apply for jobs if they believe they can perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and will consider equivalent combinations of knowledge, skills, education, and experience. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Additionally, we believe compensation should reflect the value people bring and give them a real stake in what we're building. Our total compensation package includes a base salary, meaningful equity through stock options, and benefits including company holidays, paid time off (PTO), and in‑office lunches. Individual pay may vary within the posted range and is determined by a number of factors including relevant experience, skills, and location.

How We Work

We are using sunlight, software, and robots to power the world. It is historic work, and it is hard work. If you want a paved, predictable path, this isn't for you. If you'd rather invent the path, this is the best job you'll ever have.

Call it out. We put big robots in the field alongside our crews and partners. Anyone can stop any operation at any time. The same trust runs everywhere: a bug in the code, a flaw in the plan, a risk in the dirt, a design that no longer makes sense. Say it while it's small and cheap to fix, directly to the person who can fix it.