Mechanical Engineer – Equipment Design & Development (Engineer / Senior / Staff)
Deterrence
Fremont, CA · Posted October 12, 2026
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Where Fremont, CA ranks
Where Fremont, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #13Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the West Coast15% · of 66
- #15Best cities for mid-career professionals in the West Coast59% · of 71
- #17Best cities for technology pay after cost of living$181k · of 80
- #17Best cities for pay after cost of living in California$152k · of 32
- #17Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the West Coast226 openings · of 60
- #18Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the West Coast51 / 100 · of 39
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 154 open mechanical engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $108,000 to $153,500 and the median is $133,500.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
Mechanical Engineer – Equipment Design & Development (Engineer / Senior / Staff)
Summary
The Mechanical Engineer designs and develops automated manufacturing equipment from concept through commissioning. This role owns mechanical system architecture, detailed design, vendor management, build, and acceptance testing for assigned equipment. The ideal candidate brings strong mechanical design fundamentals, automation knowledge, and hands-on experience taking custom machinery from CAD to a running production line. We are hiring multiple engineers across levels; scope and independence scale with level.
Key Responsibilities
Lead mechanical design of automation equipment: layouts, frames, motion systems, tooling, fixturing, material handling, and system interfaces.
Develop equipment architecture and define performance metrics such as cycle time, precision, load capacity, and scalability.
Produce detailed 3D models, drawings, and BOMs in SolidWorks; apply GD&T and tolerance analysis.
Perform engineering analysis including structural, thermal, and fluid modeling; conduct DFM and DFMEA.
Translate requirements into technical specifications for custom and off-the-shelf equipment; evaluate vendors and lead design reviews.
Collaborate with controls, robotics, and software teams on integrated system development.
Support build and assembly; lead FAT/SAT, installation, and commissioning.
Troubleshoot mechanical and electromechanical issues to root cause and drive design corrections.
Maintain design documentation, change control, and spares definitions.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Engineer: 2+ years · Senior: 5+ years · Staff: 7+ years in mechanical design of production or automation equipment.
Hands-on experience designing, building, and commissioning manufacturing equipment.
Proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and FEA.
Working knowledge of industrial automation, robotics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and machine safety systems.
Ability to read and produce mechanical drawings, schematics, and specifications
Level Expectations
Staff additionally owns equipment architecture for a program, leads vendor and design reviews, and mentors engineers.
Preferred Skills
Hazardous-materials safety systems experience across chemical, energy, automotive, aerospace, or electronics industries.
Procurement of complex custom machinery.
Background in robotics, PLCs, mechatronics, or process development.
Experience leading FAT/SAT and troubleshooting complex automation systems.
Knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, and ISO safety standards.