Staff Mechanical Design Engineer

Staff Mechanical Design EngineerAurora's mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly. The Aurora Driver will create a new era in mobility and logistics, one that will bring a safer, more efficient, and more accessible future to everyone. At Aurora, you will tackle massively complex problems alongside other passionate, intelligent individuals, growing as an expert while expanding your knowledge. Aurora hires talented people with diverse backgrounds who are ready to help build a transportation ecosystem that will make our roads safer, get crucial goods where they need to go, and make mobility more efficient and accessible for all.Aurora is seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer for the Compute Product Engineering team within the HPE (Hardware Product Engineering) group. The HPE Mechanical Design team is responsible for the development of all custom hardware modules in the Aurora Driver Kit (ADK) including Compute modules, Sensor Pods, and Lidar. The team works cross-functionally with EE, layout, CAE, Reliability, EMC, NPI, Operations, and other R&D teams to deliver the robust, scalable electro-mechanical solutions that power the Aurora Driver. Our team starts development at the earliest stages of product scoping and technology exploration and carries products through mass production at scale with our manufacturing partners.Role OverviewIn this role, you will lead the development of our next-generation Aurora Driver Module, which consists of the integration of our Primary Computer and Electronic Control Units for our autonomous vehicle platform known as the Aurora Driver. This role owns mechanical architecture from concept through production, driving robust, manufacturable designs for compute hardware deployed in safety-critical environments. In addition, you will support and sustain products driving autonomously on roads today. This is a high-impact, cross-functional role at the intersection of mechanical design, electronics packaging, and vehicle integration, with responsibility for setting technical direction and mentoring engineers.In this role you will:Lead mechanical design and architecture of ECU systems, including enclosures, thermal management, structural design, and packagingOwn full lifecycle development: concept ? prototype ? validation ? production releaseDefine system-level requirements and translate into detailed mechanical designs and specificationsDesign for high-performance compute systems including:Thermal solutions (passive/active cooling, application of TIMs, design of heat sinks)EMI/EMC shielding and grounding strategiesShock/vibration durability for automotive environmentsOptimize packaging for space, weight, thermal constraints, and serviceabilityPrototyping & ValidationDrive rapid prototyping, bring-up, and iterative validation of ECU hardwarePartner with Reliability to develop and execute validation plans (DV/PV)Lead root cause analysis and design improvements based on test dataManufacturing & ProductionPartner with manufacturing and suppliers for DFM/DFA optimizationOwn transition from prototype to production-grade designsCross-functional LeadershipWork closely with electrical, firmware, software, and vehicle integration teamsDrive system-level tradeoffs across multiple domains for critical decision makingProvide technical leadership, design reviews, and mentorship to junior engineersRequired QualificationsBS / MS in Mechanical Engineering (or similar) and 8+ years of industry experience in Mechanical DesignProficient in CAD design & 2D drawing creation using GD&T, Catia 3DX preferredPrior experience with Contractor Manufacturers in high volume settings, including DFM/DFA, build support, and ECO processes.Experience designing for harsh environments including shock/vibration and temperature cycling with long term durabilityExperience mitigating EMI/EMC through specifications for connector selection, board-level shielding, and wiring harnesses.Ability to apply a deep understanding of both structural and thermal engineering principles to assess designs and validate simulation outcomesProficiency in generating 2D tolerance analysis, including the application of Root Sum Squares (RSS) and Monte Carlo when appropriateKnowledge of materials and manufacturing processes common to electromechanical productsExperience identifying critical failure modes and reaction plans to mitigate failuresExperience in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of product and fleet issuesExperience working in multidisciplinary environments (mechanical + electrical + software)Strong presentation and documentation skills for participating in critical design decisionsWillingness to travel within the US 1-2 times a year and internationally 1-2 times a yearDesirable QualificationsExperience with automotive ECUs or high-performance compute systems and integration into vehiclesExperience with high power, high thermal density, and high speed electronics (for example, server / networking design, avionics design, etc) and deep understanding of their integration challengesPast experience with FEA & CFD, specifically for integrated electronics (Ansys + Icepak preferred)Experience designing mechanical control outlines (MCO) of PCB assembliesExperience with designing to Automotive standards, like ISO 16750 and similarAbility to lead DFMEA creation and execution with a clear understanding of failure modes and mechanisms for electro-mechanical products in a safety critical environmentExperience with supplier management, PPAP, and production rampingBackground in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and/or automotive vehicle designProven experience with manufacturing processes, including, but not limited to, High Pressure Die Casting, CNC Milling, Stampings, and Press Brake Bending.The base salary range for this position is $181,000 - $262,000 per year. Aurora's pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, the successful candidate's starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, qualifications, relevant education or training, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future. The successful candidate will also be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and benefits.Working at Aurora At Aurora, we bring together extraordinarily talented and experienced people united by the strength of our values. We operate with integrity, set outrageous goals, and build a culture where we win together — all without any jerks.We believe in-person work increases collaboration, empathy and our ability to lead effectively. As a result, we operate in a hybrid work environment where Aurorans are in office at least 3 days per week.Our Careers page provides insight into what it is like to work at Aurora, and you can find all the latest updates in our Newsroom.Our commitment to safetyAt the core of everything we do is our commitment to safety. Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and we believe that each employee at Aurora has a role in contributing to safety, every step of the way. Aurora expects commitment to our safety policies from every employee, and seeks candidates who take an active responsibility, can contribute to building an atmosphere of trust, and invest in the organization's long-term success by prioritizing working safely, no matter what.Our commitment to inclusionAurora considers candidates without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, parent or caregiver status, ancestry, political affiliation, veteran and/or military status, physical or mental disability, or any other status protected by federal or state law. Aurora considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io California applicants, information collected and processed as part of your application and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Aurora's California Employment Privacy Policy.