Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Big Machines

About Redwood Materials

Redwood Materials was founded in 2017 by JB Straubel, co-founder and former CTO of Tesla, on a simple but radical idea: the critical minerals powering the energy transition already exist. They just need to come back. Today Redwood is the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America — recovering, refining, and redeploying critical minerals from end-of-life batteries back into the supply chain. On the energy side, Redwood has deployed the largest second-life battery project in the world, delivering power to AI data centers in months rather than years using proprietary energy architecture engineered entirely in-house. The company is profitable, the market it operates in is projected to grow 20 to 50 times over the next decade, and Redwood is the only company with the supply chain, the technology, and the operational scale to lead it.

About the team  

Big Machines designs and builds custom equipment for our factories and processing plants. Most of what we make can’t be bought from a vendor, so we figure out how to design, build, and commission it ourselves. The scale is big. A full kiln system may weigh 100+ tons and be over 30m long.  

We are looking for an engineer who has owned machinery from concept through commissioning. You have built things that failed and learned the hard lessons. You work from first principles when there is no precedent to lean on, run your own analysis, and you hold a high standard for detail without losing the ability to execute.  

Responsibilities

• Own the design, build, and commissioning of low-volume, custom integrated machines

• Perform engineering hand calculations and finite element analysis to size structures and mechanisms

• Create detailed models and engineering prints in SolidWorks, including managing large assemblies and drawing packages

• Collaborate with internal fabrication teams and external vendors to manufacture parts

• Support machine assembly and testing by performing hands-on commissioning, equipment operation, and floor troubleshooting

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline

• 5+ years of professional experience designing and analyzing mechanical structures, mechanisms, or industrial equipment

• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, or Creo

• Strong understanding and application of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and fabricating welded structures

• Experience designing and testing mechanical mechanisms

• Experience managing large CAD assembly models and engineering drawings

• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

• Experience integrating servos, actuators, and sensors

• Hands-on experience working in a production facility with heavy equipment and industrial machinery

In accordance with California pay transparency laws, the salary range for this position is listed below. Actual compensation may vary based on a variety of factors, including experience, education, and skills. 

California Pay Range:

$147,500—$235,000 USD

The position is full-time. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

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