Mechanical Engineer

Solar MD; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,150,000; Full time

Job summary

Solar MD is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to drive the design and refinement of large-scale sheet metal enclosures and BESS containers for utility-scale projects. You will bridge R&D simulations with on-site manufacturing on the factory floor, coordinating multi-level assemblies and ensuring design for manufacturing excellence.

You will apply Autodesk Inventor expertise, manage TD and engineering drawings in the ERP, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet safety standards and local

Qualifications

• 6+ years of heavy mechanical design experience in sectors with large-scale enclosures and local manufacturing.
• Expert Autodesk Inventor skills and high proficiency in FEA; ability to manage massive CAD assemblies.
• Knowledge of sheet metal and structural steel, with bend deductions and tolerance stack-ups.
• Experience with machining fundamentals and prototyping is a plus.
• Familiarity with South African supply chains and SANS compliance.

Responsibilities

• Architect and manage highly complex, multi-level assemblies for large BESS containers.
• Lead design and engineering of robust enclosures and internal rack architectures using Autodesk Inventor.
• Work with structural steels, sheet metal, and plastics for durable products.
• Publish and track products within ERP (myWork24) and maintain TD and drawings.
• Design for Manufacturing to optimize laser cutting, bending, welding, and powder coating.
• Ensure compliance with IP ratings (IP54/IP65), load testing, and local standards (SANS).
• Collaborate with engineering and assembly teams; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Autodesk Inventor

FEA analysis

Mechanical design

Sheet metal design

CFD (optional)

Education

BEng/BS/BTech in Mechanical Engineering

ECSA registration or candidate tracking

Tools

myWork24 ERP

FEA software

Job description

About Solar MD - LEADERS IN ENERGY STORAGE

Since 2014, Solar MD has been a global leader in energy storage solutions, providing affordable, reliable, and quality products to homes, businesses, and industries globally. With hundreds of thousands of units installed in over 50 countries, our innovative technology is building a brighter, greener future for everyone.

We are looking for a powerhouse Mechanical Engineer who wants to see their 3D models turn into physical, locally manufactured products on our factory floor.

You will own the physical architecture and structural integrity of our energy storage solutions. This isn't a desk-only job where your designs disappear into an overseas factory. You will bridge the gap between complex R&D simulations and the heavy machinery (CNC punching, bending, laser cutting) running right outside your office.

Your core focus will be leading the design and refinement of high-volume sheet metal enclosures and large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) containers for our utility-scale projects. Experience in tackling complex thermal management (HVAC/Liquid-cooling layout and ducting) is highly regarded but not strictly required.

Key Responsibilities

• Large-Scale Assembly Management: Architect and manage highly complex, multi-level assemblies. You will be responsible for designing massive BESS containers from the ground up, coordinating hundreds of intricate sub-assemblies into one cohesive, functional unit.
• Product Development: Lead the design and engineering of robust enclosures, internal rack architectures, and custom mechanical sub-assemblies using Autodesk Inventor.
• Material Specialization: Work extensively with structural steels and diverse sheet metal materials, including stainless steel (304 and 409), mild steels, and plastic sheets.
• ERP & Product Data Management: Take responsibility for publishing and tracking products within our ERP ecosystem (myWork24). You will manage technical data (TD), keep engineering drawings up to date, and ensure accurate tracking of product revisions.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Work closely with our internal production lines to optimize designs for laser cutting, precision bending, welding, and powder coating—actively lowering scrap rates and production cycle times.
• Compliance & Testing: Guide products through strict safety and structural compliance protocols, including IP ratings (IP54/IP65), structural load testing, and local South African National Standards (SANS codes).
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate closely with the wider engineering and assembly technician teams to ensure seamless mechanical integration. Mentoring junior engineering staff is part of your DNA.
• Thermal Design & CFD (Optional): If you have the skillset, you can assist with our thermal management strategy by running Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to keep cell temperature deltas within strict thresholds under high-stress cycles.

Requirements

• BEng, BSc, or BTech in Mechanical Engineering. (ECSA registration or candidate tracking is highly regarded).
• 6+ years of heavy mechanical design experience. You must have a background in a sector where physical enclosure integrity, large-scale systems, and local manufacturing collide (e.g., e-mobility, automotive, heavy industrial power electronics, or automated manufacturing).
• Advanced mastery of Autodesk Inventor alongside dedicated finite element analysis (FEA). You must have proven expertise in structuring, handling, and optimizing massive, multi-level CAD assemblies without compromising system performance. (Experience with thermal fluid simulation tools is a strong bonus).
• Deep Material Knowledge: You know sheet metal and structural steel limits intimately. You understand bend deductions and tolerance stack-ups across stainless steel, mild steel, and plastics.
• Machining Fundamentals: A foundational understanding of basic machining (milling, turning, and toolpath generation) is highly beneficial for prototyping and custom tooling design.
• Systems Tracking: Basic knowledge of ERP ecosystems and the discipline to meticulously manage product data and technical drawings.
• You prefer walking the factory floor to diagnose a machine or tooling issue firsthand over staring blindly at a CAD model.
• Familiarity with South African supply chains, steel grades, and SANS compliance frameworks.