Senior Staff Mechanical Supplier Development Engineer, Welding and Metal Forming

Mainspring Energy

Menlo Park (CA)

Remote

USD 150,000 - 185,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Pre-IPO stock options

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Mainspring Energy is seeking a Senior Staff Mechanical Supplier Development Engineer to enhance supplier relationships and ensure quality in the manufacturing process of its innovative Linear Generator technology. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in welding and metal forming processes, project management skills, and a collaborative mindset.

Qualifications

15+ years of experience in supplier development or quality engineering.
Proficient in welding processes (GTAW, GMAW).
Strong understanding of metal forming processes.

Responsibilities

Identify, assess, audit, and select suppliers for welding and metal forming.
Provide technical guidance on welding methods.
Lead validation activities such as PPAP and First Article Inspections.

Skills

Welding

Metal forming

Project management

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Senior Staff Mechanical Supplier Development Engineer, Welding and Metal Forming

1 week ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by Mainspring Energy. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$150,000.00/yr - $185,000.00/yr

Company Overview

Mainspring Energy is revolutionizing power generation with the world’s most flexible and adaptable onsite power generator, the Mainspring Linear Generator. Commercial, industrial, and utility leaders are choosing Mainspring over traditional options like engines, turbines, and fuel cells to quickly and reliably deliver local power for EV charging, commercial facilities, data centers, and grid-scale operations. The Mainspring Linear Generator is fuel flexible, ramps up and down to meet demand, and utilizes a flameless technology with near-zero NOx emissions.

Backed by top-tier investors such as Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, American Electric Power, and Lightrock, Mainspring designs, manufactures and delivers its products to customers across the U.S. today, and we’re quickly scaling for international expansion.

Inspired by our vision of the affordable, reliable, net-zero carbon grid, Mainspring is rapidly expanding within the $816B global electricity equipment market, and we’re hiring the best talent to meet growing customer demand around the globe. We welcome a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and talents to bring fresh perspectives and ongoing innovation to our customers.

We are looking to build relationships with people who share our values:

Pragmatic Optimism. Building a new category of world-class power generation requires the optimism of ambition and creativity, balanced with practicality to solve problems efficiently. The challenges that arise are opportunities for growth.

Excellence without Ego. We bring expertise and commitment to creating the best customer experience, from sales to deployment and service, just as we apply deep technical rigor to building and delivering world-class products. We strive for excellence and behave as leaders with the humility to acknowledge our challenges, both collectively and as individual contributors.

Proactive Collaboration. The integration and cross-disciplinary nature of Mainspring’s business requires intentionally seeking out others who bring different skills, perspectives, and priorities. Our culture of inclusion and respect extends beyond our team to interactions with our partners and customers.

More information can be found at www.mainspringenergy.com

Job Overview

Mainspring Energy is scaling its breakthrough Linear Generator technology and seeks a seasoned Senior Staff Mechanical Supplier Development Engineer with deep expertise in welding (GTAW, GMAW, resistance welding, Laser welding) and metal forming/stamping processes. This role focuses on developing, qualifying, and enhancing suppliers of welded and hydroformed components to meet stringent quality, cost, and delivery standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical acumen, project management capabilities, and a collaborative approach to drive supplier performance and innovation.

Company Overview

We are looking to build relationships with people who share our values:

More information can be found at www.mainspringenergy.com

Job Overview

Responsibilities

Identify, assess, audit, and select suppliers for welding and metal forming, ensuring technical capabilities, quality systems, and process maturity align with Mainspring standards.
Provide technical guidance on welding methods (e.g., GTAW, GMAW) and metal forming; collaborate with suppliers to optimize processes and ensure compliance with specifications and best practices.
Develop and maintain quality management systems with suppliers, including process controls, inspection protocols, and adherence to standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949).
Lead validation activities such as PPAP and First Article Inspections to confirm process capabilities and product compliance.
Define and track KPIs related to supplier performance in quality, delivery, and cost; analyze data to drive continuous improvement.
Drive weld defects’ root cause analysis for and corrective actions using methodologies like 8D and 5-Why to resolve quality and process issues.
Lead supplier development plans and project timelines, including training on best practices, advanced techniques, and emerging technologies.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Sourcing to identify cost-saving opportunities, enhance DFM, apply value engineering, participate in and approve design reviews, and ensure successful production launch.
Contribute to welding development programs including WPS, WPQR, and welder training; oversee new welding procedures and qualification evaluations.
Investigate and resolve weld defects by determining root causes and recommending corrective actions.
Prepare and maintain welding standards, process instructions, and technical specifications.
Maintain strong communication with suppliers and internal teams to ensure alignment and foster collaborative partnerships.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Welding Engineering, or a related field
15+ years of experience in supplier development, manufacturing, or quality engineering focused on welding and metal forming
Proficient in welding processes (GTAW, GMAW, resistance) and weld metallurgy
Strong understanding of tube and sheet metal forming processes, including high-pressure and pressure-sequence techniques
Experience in designing, evaluating, and validating metal forming dies and tooling for high-pressure applications
Experienced in PPAP, FAI, and quality systems (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949)
Proficient in CMM inspection, NDT methods (e.g., ultrasonic, dye penetrant), and SPC tools
Familiar with lean manufacturing, process capability, and continuous improvement practices
Strong analytical, communication, and supplier development/training skills
Proficient in ERP systems and procurement software
AWS/IWE Certified Welding Engineer (preferred)
Willingness to travel to supplier sites as needed

Does your experience not meet all of our posted requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to positions unless they meet every listed requirement. At Mainspring, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, flexible, and collaborative environment, so if you want to help us transition the world to clean and affordable electricity, and don’t meet all posted requirements for a particular role, we’d still love to hear from you. Mainspring can sometimes be flexible enough to shift responsibilities for the right person, or otherwise identify open or upcoming roles that may better fit your professional background.

In more traditional words, Mainspring Energy, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

This compensation and benefits information is based on Mainspring Energy's estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future. We generally do not negotiate on salary once we have made an offer. The level of pay within the range will depend on a variety of job-related factors that may include location, relevant prior experience and/or education, or particular skills and expertise. New hires joining the company tend to be paid within the starting base pay range noted above, with opportunities to increase pay over time based on development of additional skills, competencies, and company-specific knowledge.

This position is remote . The salary will be adjusted to reflect local market conditions based on employee location as well as the experience of the employee. Along with the base salary, Mainspring offers pre-IPO stock options + benefits.

Seniority level