Senior Mechanical Engineer

BrightHire Search Partners; Rhode Island; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

BrightHire Search Partners is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to translate concepts into robust mechanical designs and prototypes in a small, high-autonomy R&D team.

You'll create SolidWorks CAD models, build electromechanical systems, and iterate quickly using rapid prototyping while coordinating with firmware, electrical, and industrial design. This role emphasizes field-ready robustness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 4-12+ years of mechanical engineering experience, ideally with prototypes.
• Strong proficiency in CAD SolidWorks; ability to interface with SolidWorks-based NPD teams.
• Demonstrated ability to take concepts from idea to design to parts to working prototype.
• Hands-on experience designing mechanisms, enclosures, and electromechanical systems.
• Practical understanding of motors, actuators, sensors, and basic system integration.
• Experience with machine shops, suppliers, and rapid prototyping methods.

Responsibilities

• Translate concepts into functional mechanical designs, mechanisms, and prototypes
• Create detailed CAD models (SolidWorks) and move to 3D-printed or machined hardware
• Design, source, order, and assemble electromechanical systems involving motors, actuators, sensors, and supporting structures
• Build working prototypes and test fixtures under tight timelines
• Collaborate with firmware/software and electrical design to integrate mechanical and electromechanical elements
• Evaluate real-world failure modes and design for robustness, especially for field-deployed prototypes
• Interface with internal FEA/modeling resources and external machine shops/suppliers
• Support technology handoff at TRL 6 to NPD/sustaining engineering teams with clear, practical documentation
• Partner with industrial design on how new technologies can enable greater product flexibility and form-factor innovation
• Operate comfortably in an environment of frequent pivots, high ambiguity, and rapid experimentation

Skills

Mechanical design

Prototype development

CAD SolidWorks

Rapid prototyping

Systems integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

Other CAD

3D printing

Machining

Job description

Join a small, high-autonomy R&D team focused on identifying, prototyping, and de-risking emerging technologies that will shape the future of home automation. This is a hands-on mechanical design role in a fast-moving, ideation-heavy environment that operates with significant freedom and prioritizes rapid iteration over polish.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate high-level concepts into functional mechanical designs, mechanisms, and prototypes
• Create detailed CAD models (SolidWorks preferred) and rapidly move from design to 3D-printed or machined hardware
• Design, source, order, and assemble electromechanical systems involving motors, actuators, sensors, and supporting structures
• Build working prototypes and test fixtures under tight timelines (days to weeks)
• Collaborate closely with firmware/software and electrical design to integrate mechanical and electromechanical elements
• Evaluate real-world failure modes and design for robustness, especially for field-deployed prototypes
• Interface with internal FEA/modeling resources and external machine shops/suppliers
• Support technology handoff at TRL 6 to NPD/sustaining engineering teams with clear, practical documentation
• Partner with industrial design on how new technologies can enable greater product flexibility and form-factor innovation
• Operate comfortably in an environment of frequent pivots, high ambiguity, and rapid experimentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
• 4-12+ years of Mechanical Engineering experience, ideally building prototypes
• Strong proficiency in CAD SolidWorks strongly preferred; other platforms acceptable with ability to interface with SolidWorks-based NPD teams
• Demonstrated ability to take concepts from idea to design to parts to working prototype
• Hands-on experience designing mechanisms, enclosures, and electromechanical systems
• Practical understanding of motors, actuators, sensors, and basic system integration
• Experience working with machine shops, suppliers, and rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, machining, etc.)
• Ability to assess and design for real-world failure modes and robustness
• Comfortable operating independently with high-level direction in a fast-paced, low-structure environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in R&D, advanced technology, startup, or small-team environments rather than pure production/sustaining roles
• Mechatronics, robotics, or systems-level experience
• Exposure to FEA/structural analysis (or strong ability to define requirements for internal analysts)
• Experience with stage-gate innovation processes
• Prior work involving field-deployed prototypes or harsh/real-world operating conditions