Senior/Staff Mechanical Design Engineer

San Carlos, California, United States

About the company

At Swift Solar, our mission is to unlock the full potential of solar energy. We believe that solar energy has a vast, untapped potential to power our lives, fuel economies, and strengthen supply chains, while protecting planetary health in the face of global climate change. The reality is, today's solar technology is good, but it's not good enough. 

Swift Solar is making solar better with its breakthrough tandem technology that harnesses the power of perovskite materials to create solar solutions that are not only more efficient than traditional technology but also more versatile, enabling applications ranging from space solar to utility-scale power generation. 

Swift Solar is a mission-focused startup supported by the US government and backed by world-class investors.. It’s a long journey to bring a new clean energy technology to market, and we’re in it for the long haul, together. Join our extraordinary team who is building the cutting-edge solar technology that will shape the future of the global solar industry.

A day in the life

As a Mechanical Design Engineer at Swift, you will help us develop, build, and maintain the equipment to create the next generation of solar products. You will work in a fast-paced environment as a core member of the engineering team, and be responsible for the design of mechanical parts and assemblies required for R&D and production equipment. You will be continuously challenged to take new ideas, develop them in SolidWorks, and refine the design with FEM simulation tools. Together with R&D and process engineering specialists, you will be developing key intellectual property that supports Swift’s success.

On a typical day, you might work on a new deposition system assembly, designing specific parts according to specifications you’ve defined previously with one of our process engineers. To reduce lead time and cost, you might send dimensioned drawings with specified tolerances to various machine shops for quotes. You might also attend a meeting with the R&D team to debug the root cause of a process problem.

As an early hire, you’ll help craft Swift’s culture. In this role you’ll be interacting with every part of the company, which will naturally lead to many opportunities to grow your own skills and responsibilities. We encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities.

You might be a good fit if you... 

  • Have 10+ years experience with complex mechanical designs and assemblies in SolidWorks, including dimensioning and management of the part manufacturing process 
  • Have 5+ years experience designing for vacuum deposition equipment and are familiar with vacuum components selection (flange standards, valves, rotary feedthroughs, etc.)
  • Have structural, thermal and flow FEA simulation experience 
  • Have experience with high-temperature ceramic, graphite, and metal alloy part design
  • Have experience designing mechanisms that require precision 
  • Take initiative to tackle problems you see around you, even if it’s not your job
  • Consider yourself to be conscientious, empathetic, tactful, and growth-minded
  • Are organized and keep good documentation

A very strong candidate will likely bring one or more of the following...

  • In-depth understanding of fluid mechanics
  • Thermal and CFD simulation experience in COMSOL, Ansys Fluent, SolidWorks, or similar multiphysics simulations software
  • Strong understanding of product design and life cycle
  • Familiarity with low-voltage control systems (24 and 48 VDC) and/or high voltage equipment systems (208 VAC, 480 VAC)

The logistics

  • Compensation: Competitive package including salary, equity, and benefits
    • Expected pay range: $120,000 - $185,000 per year
    • The actual offer, reflecting total compensation and benefits, will be determined by factors such as years of relevant experience, skills, and other qualifications 
  • Ideal start date: June-July 2025
  • Job type: Full-time
  • Location: San Carlos, CA (Swift Solar HQ)

What you’ll love about Swift

  • Work with purpose: Join our mission to unlock the full potential of solar energy and make a global impact. 
  • Lead with innovation: Be part of an extraordinary team building cutting-edge solar technology - growth mindset; culture
  • Thrive with benefits: Have 100% of your monthly premiums for HMO / PPO group healthcare plan options and 75% of your dental and vision insurance premiums covered by us. Employees also benefit from 401(k) matching, clean commuter benefits, and meaningful equity. 
  • Invest in your career: You’ll grow your skills, your network, and your perspective at Swift. We’ll support you in attending conferences and taking online courses, as long as you share your new insights with the team.

We acknowledge that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the criteria. If you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. We're eager to meet people from all backgrounds, and your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

If you believe in our mission, but this isn’t the right job for you, please check out other career opportunities on our website and email us at careers@swiftsolar.com with any questions. And if you have a friend who would be a perfect fit, send them this link. Thanks!

Swift is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive work environment and welcome team members of all backgrounds and perspectives.

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