Mechanical Design Engineer
About Base
Base is America’s next-generation power company. We’re rebuilding the foundation of modern civilization-electricity-by deploying a vast network of distributed batteries that is transforming today’s fragile, centralized grid into a resilient and abundant system. We are engineers, operators, and creatives solving some of the most complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.
About the Role
We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to design residential and commercial energy products. This person owns mechanical components and assemblies from concept through production-designing reliable, high-performance, manufacturable hardware for battery energy storage systems and related consumer/industrial products.
What You’ll Do
Mechanical Design & Development: Own the design, development, and optimization of mechanical components and assemblies for residential battery systems and related hardware.
CAD & Prototyping: Create detailed 3D models and prototypes using CATIA 3DX. Produce manufacturing drawings with proper GD&T and tolerance stacks.
Engineering Analysis: Perform thermal, stress, and structural analysis-hand calcs and simulation-to validate performance, safety, and reliability.
Material Selection & Manufacturing: Select materials based on performance, cost, and manufacturability. Work with suppliers and manufacturers to hold quality and production standards.
Cross-Domain Integration: Work with electrical engineers to integrate mechanical design with batteries, wiring, and enclosures for reliable, safe performance.
Design for Manufacturability: Apply DFM to make designs cost-effective and easy to build at volume-accounting for tooling, processes, and assembly.
Testing & Validation: Create test plans, set up tests, and analyze results to confirm products meet standards and requirements.
What You'll Bring
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
3+ years in mechanical design for consumer or industrial hardware where performance is critical to customer satisfaction or safety-e.g., cars, laptops, power tools.
Proficiency in CAD (3D and 2D) and statistical tolerance analysis.
Hands-on experience with prototyping, testing, and manufacturing, including 3D printing and CNC machining.
Working knowledge of materials science-how materials behave under thermal and mechanical loads, and how to select them for the application.
Understanding of DFM and the ability to collaborate with manufacturing to ensure designs can be produced efficiently.
Experience with product lifecycle management from concept through production-part release, documentation, sustaining, and obsolescence.
Strong communication and documentation skills, able to present technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience designing enclosures or structural assemblies for battery, power-electronics, or other thermally and electrically demanding systems.
Experience with statistical tolerance analysis on high-volume assemblies.
Familiarity with safety standards relevant to energy storage or electromechanical products.
Please note: Base is a startup, which means priorities shift and evolve quickly. Your role may expand or change based on the needs of the business at any given time, so the responsibilities listed may not be exhaustive.
Our Values
First Principles Thinking: Question assumptions. Principles > rules.
Operate at Base Pace: Focus on what matters, act quickly, and learn by doing.
Give & Get Feedback: Be direct, be humble, and maintain a growth mindset.
Everyone’s an Owner: Follow through on commitments and own results.
Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: Drive clarity and make calls with imperfect information.
Committed to the Mission: Rebuilding the grid is a big challenge. We work hard because we care deeply about the impact we’re creating. We work in-person. It’s not a 9-to-5. We are all-in.
Fun & Optimism Coexist with Grit: Collaboration and celebration coincide with the intensity of building real things.