Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineering Contractor – Vehicle Integration (HIL / Test Fixtures)

Location: Mountain View, CA or Pittsburgh, PA (onsite required)

This is a part-time contract position offering 20 hours per week over a 6-month period, with a competitive pay rate of $65–$80 per hour. The role is based in either Mountain View, CA or Pittsburgh, PA (onsite presence required). While core hours will be coordinated for team meetings and collaboration, the weekly schedule is highly flexible and can be arranged at the contractor’s discretion — whether that’s five 4-hour days, three 6.5-hour days, or another mutually agreeable distribution that meets the 20-hour weekly target.

This contract role supports the Vehicle Integration team in developing robust Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) systems and specialized test fixtures. The focus is on creating complex environments — racks, enclosures, and fixtures — required to test advanced hardware generations at scale. Unlike production-intent module design, this position emphasizes the mechanical packaging and integration needed for high-fidelity validation testing.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in mechanical packaging for complex electro-mechanical systems and a proven track record designing test fixtures. You should be comfortable working at the intersection of mechanical design and electrical integration, with a “builder” mindset that includes both digital design and physical realization of these systems. Proficiency in 3D CAD (CATIA preferred) and 2D drawing creation is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop mechanical packaging for HIL and eHIL racks, ensuring proper integration of full hardware modules.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Embedded, Test Automation Engineering (TAE), EDS, and Product Integration (PI) teams to define requirements for module-level test racks and Device Under Test (DUT) fixtures.
• Coordinate with the EDS team on electrical routing and cable management within HIL systems and test assemblies.
• Lead the design and build of PI Test Fixtures and specialized mechanical tools (e.g., cleaning test setups, calibration pods) for hardware validation.
• Provide onsite build and upfit support at the Mountain View (MTV) and potentially Pittsburgh (PIT) locations to ensure designs are executed to specification.
• Partner with R&D and Manufacturing teams to support build activities for harnesses, mechanical frames, and rack assemblies.
• Create 3D models, 2D drawings, and engineering BOMs in CATIA 3DX.

Required Qualifications:

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering with 4 years of industry experience in mechanical design or test infrastructure.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering fundamentals, particularly electronics packaging and cable management.
• Skilled in solid modeling CAD tools (CATIA strongly preferred).
• Proven analytical and hands-on engineering skills; ability to thrive in a rapid prototyping and shop environment.
• Experience designing for low-to-medium volume assemblies such as test benches, industrial racks, or complex enclosures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to coordinate across geographically distributed teams.
• Ability to work onsite in Mountain View, CA and travel to Pittsburgh, PA as needed for build support and hardware upfits.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) system architecture or large-scale electrical test benches.
• Background in the automotive or autonomous systems industry.
• Familiarity with electrical routing requirements and thermal management for rack-mounted systems.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for basic data analysis or automation.

This is a contract position supporting the continued expansion of HIL and test fixture development programs.