Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Closures Systems

About Pebble

Pebble is an electric vehicle startup defining a new way to live, work, and explore from anywhere with a 100% electric, hassle-free RV. Built by a team of experts in both automotive and consumer technology, Pebble combines electrification with cutting-edge automotive design for an RV experience that removes the hassles RV owners have struggled with for decades.

At Pebble, we are building the future of lighter, more flexible living. We see a world where your home can be anywhere you want to take it. Pebble blends the best of what it means to be at home, on the road, and off-grid into something useful and magical. This is a collective effort. Our team is dedicated to creating not just products, but a lifestyle that is truly sustainable.

If the idea of building the future sparks your imagination and intersects with your skills, we’d love to meet you.

Role: Staff Design Engineer – Closures Systems

Location: Fremont, CA

We are seeking a seasoned Staff Design Engineer to join our dynamic team in redefining electric RV living. In this role, you will focus on the design and integration of Closures systems. You will bring your expertise in materials, manufacturing, and design best practices to deliver optimized designs that meet performance and functional requirements as well as aesthetically integrated solutions that meet the unique demands of mobile living.

Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination. Candidates should have demonstrated the ability to learn quickly and work effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment and be excellent at multi-tasking for this hands-on engineering role that will work closely with cross-functional partners to ensure exceptional design quality, performance and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the design, development and validation of Closures systems such as entry doors, cargo doors, charging doors and sealing systems from concept through production. This includes the Closures structural parts and assemblies with a preference on aluminum or composite design as well as the Closures hardware and mechanisms such as hinges, handles, latches, locks and their kinematic requirements.
• Design with excellence at system and component level with great attention to every detail to create optimized design for performance, size, weight, durability and cost to achieve vehicle requirements.
• Work closely with both internal teams and external suppliers using creativity and teamwork to integrate multiple systems in the most efficient way possible.
• Work closely with other stake owners and attribute owners across the company such as Safety, Dynamics, NVH, Durability, Manufacturing, Design Studio, etc. to create world class designs.
• Collaboration with cross functional teams such as Testing and CAE by interpreting and using analysis results to guide and evolve the design.
• Collaboration with manufacturing to ensure efficient process sequence and build quality.
• Cross functionally work with Manufacturing, Design and Product Development as well as with Purchasing, Quality and Suppliers on items such as tool buy-offs and secondary component changes.
• Ability to create testing plans and conduct / coordinate physical tests to prove out design concepts and ensure performance targets are being achieved.
• Perform detailed analysis of section properties, materials and manufacturing processes through benchmarking activities to understand competitiveness of designs.
• Coordinate virtual engineering and physical validation testing activities for your designs.
• Coordinate and communicate with interfacing suppliers.
• Effectively provide direction to others and negotiate a balanced solution.
• Manage CAD models, drawings, tolerance stacks using GD&T, and BOMs with a focus on fit, finish, and assembly robustness.
• Travel domestically and internationally as required.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace or Automotive Engineering or equivalent from ABET accredited institution or equivalent closures automotive experience required.
• 12 years of expertise in Closures systems and sub-systems at OEM or supplier preferably automotive is desired
• Proven 3D CAD skills, proficient with CATIA V5/V6 or similar software with a strong desire to use it and a proficiency with various analysis tools such as ANSYS, OptiStruct, MatLab, ADAMS, etc.
• Hands-on practical experience in prototype assembly and production assembly with the willingness to assemble your own parts.
• Experience in technology, system and supplier selection.
• Experience in full life cycle development from concept to prototype to full production.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes applicable Closures Structures such as castings, hot and cold stampings, extrusions, joining, etc., their advantages, and limitations. Knowledge of manufacturing processes applicable to Closures mechanisms such as injection molding, vacuum forming, stampings, riveting and PCBs.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment is crucial.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively.
• Detail oriented personality with a determined problem-solving attitude using an Engineering first principles approach.
• Design release engineering experience including engineering change management and project management experiences is desired.
• Effectively provide direction to others and negotiate a balanced solution
• Prior experience in RVs or recreational vehicles is a plus.