Sr. Mechanical Engineering Manager

About Gridware
Gridware is a San Francisco-based technology company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the electrical grid. We pioneered a groundbreaking new class of grid management called active grid response (AGR), focused on monitoring the electrical, physical, and environmental aspects of the grid that affect reliability and safety. Gridware’s advanced Active Grid Response platform uses high-precision sensors to detect potential issues early, enabling proactive maintenance and fault mitigation. This comprehensive approach helps improve safety, reduce outages, and ensure the grid operates efficiently. The company is backed by climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. For more information, please visit www.Gridware.io.

About the Role
The Sr. Mechanical Engineering Manager leads Gridware’s mechanical and hardware design efforts across enclosure architecture, thermal management, shock & vibration design, environmental sealing, and manufacturability. This role manages a team of mechanical engineers and works closely with electrical, firmware, test, operations, and field deployment teams to deliver next-generation sensing hardware that performs reliably in real-world utility environments.
You will own the full mechanical product lifecycle, from early concept exploration to field validation and production ramp.

Responsibilities :
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing mechanical engineering team with a focus on reliability engineering, ruggedization, and design excellence.
• Drive technical direction, coaching, and best-practice adoption across CAD standards, modeling, analysis, and documentation.
• Establish team norms around DFM/DFA, design reviews, requirement-setting, and risk management.
• Lead recruiting efforts for expanding mechanical/hardware engineering roles.
Product Design & Execution
• Oversee the mechanical architecture of Gridware’s sensing devices, including enclosures, thermal paths, fastening, sealing, and mechanical-electrical integration.
• Ensure designs meet field durability requirements relating to shock, vibration, moisture ingress, UV exposure, thermal cycling, wildlife/weather interaction, and long-term corrosion.
• Direct trade studies, material selection, tolerance stack-ups, and structural/thermal simulations.
• Own the release of engineering drawings, documentation, ECOs, and revision control.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with EE, firmware, and data teams to ensure mechanical constraints and design choices integrate seamlessly with system performance, power budgets, and sensing requirements.
• Work closely with manufacturing, supply chain, and operations on tooling, test fixtures, jigs, and scalable production processes.
• Collaborate with field engineering teams to incorporate real-world deployment insights back into design requirements.
• Support safety, compliance, and certification processes (UL, FCC, environmental standards).
Program & Technical Leadership
• Translate product requirements into engineering specifications with clear performance, reliability, and manufacturability targets.
• Develop project timelines, staffing plans, and technical risk mitigation strategies.
• Lead root cause analyses for field or production issues and drive corrective actions.
• Champion continuous improvement across prototyping workflows, build processes, and supplier engagement.

Required Skills:
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in mechanical product development, preferably in ruggedized or field-deployed hardware.
• 3+ years leading engineering teams or managing cross-functional deliverables.
• Strong proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred), GD&T, DFM/DFA, and mechanical system modeling.
• Experience designing for harsh environmental conditions, vibration/shock loading, and IP-rated enclosures.
• Proven track record delivering hardware from concept through production and field deployment.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and technical decision-making skills.

Bonus Skills:
• Experience with sensor systems, embedded hardware, or power electronics packaging, battery powered devices and solar.
• Familiarity with environmental and utility-related standards (UL, IEC, NEMA, IEEE).
• Hands-on experience with machining, injection molding, die casting, gasket/seal design, and corrosion-resistant materials.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and managing prototype and production builds.
• Knowledge of reliability engineering methods (HALT, FMEA, thermal cycling, accelerated life testing).

This describes the ideal candidate; many of us have picked up this expertise along the way. Even if you meet only part of this list, we encourage you to apply!

Benefits
Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered)
Paid parental leave
Alternating day off (every other Monday)
“Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees.
Commuter allowance
Company-paid training