Hardware Mechanical Engineer - Hybrid

About the role

The sensing team at Vannevar Labs is building a new hardware product that supports a widespread need for low-cost, attritable, and easily coordinated sensing. We’re looking for a Hardware Mechanical Engineer who can take ideas from a sketch on the whiteboard all the way to robust, working systems in the field.

You’ll be the first Mechanical Engineer on the team – setting the tone for how we approach mechanical design, making key technical decisions in your domain, and turning rough concepts into rugged, field-ready hardware. You’ll be part of a cross-functional team of hardware engineers (systems and electrical), software engineers, ML specialists, former military officers, and product strategists working together on this mission-driven product.

If you’re excited about designing hardware from scratch, solving real-world engineering problems in ambiguous environments, and having a huge impact from day one — this is your shot.
This is a hybrid role based in Seattle (3 days/week in office).

What you'll do

• Design and develop rugged enclosures and mounts for sensor-driven devices, ensuring the systems can be deployed in harsh remote environments. Your designs will emphasize passive cooling (thermal management without fans), protection from the elements (vibration, shock, ingress), and easy maintainability for field operators.
• Own the mechanical design process end-to-end – from initial concept and 3D CAD modeling through prototyping and refinement – ultimately guiding contract manufacturers through fabrication and assembly for production runs. You’ll make sure our mechanical parts meet quality standards and are delivered on schedule.
• Build and execute mechanical test plans (thermal, vibration, shock, environmental) on prototypes and production units. You’ll validate that designs meet requirements, analyze failures or weaknesses, and iterate quickly to improve the hardware based on lab tests and real-world field feedback.
• Collaborate closely with electrical and systems engineers to integrate circuit boards, antennas, and other electronics into your mechanical designs. You’ll balance technical requirements (like thermal loads, electromagnetic considerations, and structural support) with operational needs (like serviceability and weight) to achieve an optimal overall system design.
• Work with external partners and vendors to source and fabricate mechanical components. When we utilize external design or manufacturing resources, you’ll interface with them technically and then transition those designs in-house as the product scales.
• Provide mechanical leadership in a small, fast-moving team – establishing best practices in design and documentation, making critical trade-off decisions, and pushing back when necessary to protect technical quality and realistic schedules. In short, you’ll be the authority on all things mechanical, ensuring our hardware is built right.
• Travel up to 20% as needed to support hardware deployments in the field, visit suppliers or manufacturers, and gather hands-on feedback to inform improvements to the mechanical design.

What we look for

• An experienced mechanical engineer who’s taken hardware products from concept to production (and ideally through deployment in the field) – especially in scrappy, ambiguous environments where you had to figure a lot out as you went.
• A builder and problem-solver – comfortable with hands-on prototyping, machining or 3D printing parts, and iterating quickly to fix issues. You thrive in the lab or shop, turning wrenches and tweaking designs to make things work under real-world conditions.
• A collaborative teammate who works well across disciplines and communicates effectively with electrical engineers, software developers, product managers, and other stakeholders. You can balance competing requirements (technical, environmental, business) in your design and contribute meaningfully to overall product direction.
• A self-starter and leader who can define the mechanical engineering roadmap from scratch. You excel without rigid structure, bring clarity to ambiguous problems, and move fast without sacrificing quality or attention to detail. You take ownership and follow through.

Must Have Qualifications 

• Proven experience in mechanical design for complex hardware systems, with at least 5+ years taking designs from initial concept through to manufacturing and deployment.
• Strong skills in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) for mechanical design and layout, plus familiarity with generating drawings and BOMs for production.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes for both prototyping and production – including machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, and injection molding – and how to design parts optimized for those processes.
• Experience with thermal management and passive cooling design, including analyzing heat loads and implementing solutions like heat sinking, conduction cooling, or thermal interface materials to dissipate heat in sealed enclosures.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical testing and validation, such as environmental testing for ruggedness (vibration/shock testing, temperature/humidity cycling, ingress protection/IP ratings). You know how to verify that a design will survive in the field.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or vendors to produce mechanical components or assemblies, including reviewing technical drawings, guiding DFM/DFA feedback, and ensuring final deliverables meet specifications.
• Excellent communication skills – able to document designs clearly, write up test results, and collaborate in-person and remotely with team members and partners.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident (due to security requirements of our contracts).
• Based in the Seattle area or willing to relocate to Seattle for this hybrid role.

Nice to Haves

• Exposure to basic electronics or embedded systems – for example, comfort reading PCB layouts or wiring diagrams, or understanding how your mechanical designs impact electrical components (connectors, cables, etc.).
• Experience with engineering simulation tools, such as thermal CFD analysis or structural FEA, to complement hands-on testing when validating designs under stress or heat.
• Familiarity with designing for rugged environments and military/industrial standards (MIL-STD-810 shock and vibration, IP65/67 environmental sealing, etc.).
• Comfort integrating sensors or RF components into mechanical designs – e.g. designing antenna mounts, camera housings, or ensuring RF clearances and line-of-sight for antennas in an enclosure.
• Programming or scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, etc.) to automate test setups, analyze sensor data, or perform basic calculations – enabling you to work more efficiently and interface with the broader engineering team’s tools.
• Prior startup or small-team experience, or an obvious appetite for tackling big challenges in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment.

What we offer

The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $195,000 + equity + 401K match. Within the range, individual pay is determined by experience, relevant education, and/or training.