IDEO
Lead Mechanical Engineer San Francisco, CA
IDEO, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Lead Mechanical Engineer
San Francisco, CA At IDEO, we use design to create new products, services, experiences, tangible strategies, and creative capabilities. IDEO is in search of a
Lead Mechanical Engineer
to guide and shape the work of our world-class interdisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep industry knowledge of product development lifecycles & maintenance; a drive to iterate quickly through prototyping; and an inclusive collaboration style. This hire will have the unique opportunity to help evolve IDEO’s practice of engineering high-impact physical products, building on our diverse network of Design Directors, Partners, and Business Leaders. In a Nutshell: The
Lead Mechanical Engineer
is directly responsible for
leading physical product development efforts for our exceptionally creative clients across industries. We are especially excited to meet candidates with exceptional project management skills; visual storytelling abilities; a drive to get tangible by prototyping in both digital and physical realms; and a grounding in core design for manufacturing (DFM) principles and practices. This hire must be within a commutable distance of IDEO’s San Francisco studio. IDEO proudly supports flexible work. Once here you will: Lead and manage mechanical design efforts on complex projects from concept to implementation. Be the key technical voice on multi-disciplinary teams, translating between form and function. Elevate clients’ climate goals and sustainability best practices through 0-1 physical product development, materials science research, and life cycle analysis (LCA). Mentor and guide junior engineers and designers in the craft of physical product realization, sourcing partner manufacturers, and design for manufacturing principles. Present design direction through CAD, physical prototypes, and visual storytelling. Partner with research, design, and business stakeholders to define project strategies and product direction. Build, test, and iterate high-fidelity functional prototypes using 3D printers and machine tools. Contribute to and occasionally lead user research throughout concepting and pilot production phases. These may include in-home visits, ethnographic diary studies, qualitative / quantitative survey analysis, or other participatory workshop activities. Represent IDEO in client communications, workshops, and presentations. Qualifications / Experience: 5-7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or product design Proven ability to guide product development through ambiguous problem spaces Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred), Adobe Creative Suite, and rapid physical prototyping tools beyond 3D printing (machining, CNC lasercutting, foamcore, paper prototyping, etc) Experience launching products and sourcing key manufacturing partners Professional leadership & production experience with one or more of the following: Complex Mechanism Design:
proven ability to design, test, and develop robust mechanisms for products like medical devices or consumer electronics. Packaging : Understand basic structural packaging design and sustainability considerations. Health and Life Sciences Products : Usability and functionality with a focus on ergonomics and medical-specific requirements. Injection Molded Plastic Part Design:
Having a general knowledge of tooling approaches to aid in part design, including awareness of techniques like overmolding. Design for Manufacturing and Assembly:
Having a general understanding of the types of trade-offs and decisions that need to be made when designing a product for mass production. Proof of Concept Prototyping:
Functional prototypes to explore a key design challenge and prove something is technically feasible. Research Model Prototyping:
Prototyping to create different models to elicit user feedback during research sessions. Experience mentoring junior designers and leading small teams Experience working in startups or client-service studios, and a systems-thinking mindset Nice-to-have Skills: A leading craft edge in one or more of the following skills… Storytelling tools such as photography, videography Salary & Benefits IDEO is committed to paying its employees equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity. We support the holistic well-being of our community by providing a thoughtfully designed benefits package. The salary range for this role is
$100,000–$160,000 USD . This range is influenced by a wide range of factors considered in compensation decisions at IDEO. This includes, but is not limited to: skills, industry knowledge, and experience. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on geography, candidate experience & expertise, and other factors. In addition to base compensation, IDEO offers a rich benefits package including the following: Health Benefits:
Vision, Dental, Healthcare Financial Benefits:
401K matching Family & Caregiving:
Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Assistance, Transgender Medical Assistance, Breastmilk shipment, Back-up/Dependent Care, Pet Insurance Other Benefits:
Flexible Work, Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays, Annual Education Stipend, Home Office Stipend Commitment to Diversity At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world-changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research. As a human-centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices. We keep our diversity data public for the sake of accountability and transparency. These commitments will also be part of your journey at IDEO, so please feel free to read more about them here . Create a Job Alert Interested in building your career at IDEO? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Apply for this job
* indicates a required field First Name * Last Name * Email * Phone Resume/CV * Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Education School Select... Degree Select... Select... LinkedIn Profile Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf A portfolio is highly recommended for roles with IDEO. Please consider submitting a link to your site or uploading a pdf attachment within your application. How did you hear about this job? Select... IDEO Referral Contact (if applicable): How many cumulative years of experience do you have in a Design or Engineering role? * Do you have the unrestricted right to work in the country where this position is located? * Select... Will you ever in the future need sponsorship to work in the country where this position is located? (If you are uncertain about your response to this question, please follow up with a member of the Recruiting team if you are contacted about possible next steps.) * Select... Candidate address: * Additionally, we’re always looking for great talent across all of our IDEO studios. If you are interested in hearing about future opportunities in the following geographies, please let us know by selecting from the following list: Cambridge, MA Chicago, IL London Shanghai None Do you have any past experience in a professional services / consulting / agency setting? * Legal Notice:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Checking this box means that you have read & acknowledge the notice above. * I have read and acknowledge this notice. Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in IDEO’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. Select... Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
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We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp . How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury
Disability Status Select... PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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San Francisco, CA At IDEO, we use design to create new products, services, experiences, tangible strategies, and creative capabilities. IDEO is in search of a
Lead Mechanical Engineer
to guide and shape the work of our world-class interdisciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep industry knowledge of product development lifecycles & maintenance; a drive to iterate quickly through prototyping; and an inclusive collaboration style. This hire will have the unique opportunity to help evolve IDEO’s practice of engineering high-impact physical products, building on our diverse network of Design Directors, Partners, and Business Leaders. In a Nutshell: The
Lead Mechanical Engineer
is directly responsible for
leading physical product development efforts for our exceptionally creative clients across industries. We are especially excited to meet candidates with exceptional project management skills; visual storytelling abilities; a drive to get tangible by prototyping in both digital and physical realms; and a grounding in core design for manufacturing (DFM) principles and practices. This hire must be within a commutable distance of IDEO’s San Francisco studio. IDEO proudly supports flexible work. Once here you will: Lead and manage mechanical design efforts on complex projects from concept to implementation. Be the key technical voice on multi-disciplinary teams, translating between form and function. Elevate clients’ climate goals and sustainability best practices through 0-1 physical product development, materials science research, and life cycle analysis (LCA). Mentor and guide junior engineers and designers in the craft of physical product realization, sourcing partner manufacturers, and design for manufacturing principles. Present design direction through CAD, physical prototypes, and visual storytelling. Partner with research, design, and business stakeholders to define project strategies and product direction. Build, test, and iterate high-fidelity functional prototypes using 3D printers and machine tools. Contribute to and occasionally lead user research throughout concepting and pilot production phases. These may include in-home visits, ethnographic diary studies, qualitative / quantitative survey analysis, or other participatory workshop activities. Represent IDEO in client communications, workshops, and presentations. Qualifications / Experience: 5-7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering or product design Proven ability to guide product development through ambiguous problem spaces Deep proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred), Adobe Creative Suite, and rapid physical prototyping tools beyond 3D printing (machining, CNC lasercutting, foamcore, paper prototyping, etc) Experience launching products and sourcing key manufacturing partners Professional leadership & production experience with one or more of the following: Complex Mechanism Design:
proven ability to design, test, and develop robust mechanisms for products like medical devices or consumer electronics. Packaging : Understand basic structural packaging design and sustainability considerations. Health and Life Sciences Products : Usability and functionality with a focus on ergonomics and medical-specific requirements. Injection Molded Plastic Part Design:
Having a general knowledge of tooling approaches to aid in part design, including awareness of techniques like overmolding. Design for Manufacturing and Assembly:
Having a general understanding of the types of trade-offs and decisions that need to be made when designing a product for mass production. Proof of Concept Prototyping:
Functional prototypes to explore a key design challenge and prove something is technically feasible. Research Model Prototyping:
Prototyping to create different models to elicit user feedback during research sessions. Experience mentoring junior designers and leading small teams Experience working in startups or client-service studios, and a systems-thinking mindset Nice-to-have Skills: A leading craft edge in one or more of the following skills… Storytelling tools such as photography, videography Salary & Benefits IDEO is committed to paying its employees equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity. We support the holistic well-being of our community by providing a thoughtfully designed benefits package. The salary range for this role is
$100,000–$160,000 USD . This range is influenced by a wide range of factors considered in compensation decisions at IDEO. This includes, but is not limited to: skills, industry knowledge, and experience. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on geography, candidate experience & expertise, and other factors. In addition to base compensation, IDEO offers a rich benefits package including the following: Health Benefits:
Vision, Dental, Healthcare Financial Benefits:
401K matching Family & Caregiving:
Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Assistance, Transgender Medical Assistance, Breastmilk shipment, Back-up/Dependent Care, Pet Insurance Other Benefits:
Flexible Work, Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays, Annual Education Stipend, Home Office Stipend Commitment to Diversity At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world-changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research. As a human-centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices. We keep our diversity data public for the sake of accountability and transparency. These commitments will also be part of your journey at IDEO, so please feel free to read more about them here . Create a Job Alert Interested in building your career at IDEO? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email. Apply for this job
* indicates a required field First Name * Last Name * Email * Phone Resume/CV * Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Education School Select... Degree Select... Select... LinkedIn Profile Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf A portfolio is highly recommended for roles with IDEO. Please consider submitting a link to your site or uploading a pdf attachment within your application. How did you hear about this job? Select... IDEO Referral Contact (if applicable): How many cumulative years of experience do you have in a Design or Engineering role? * Do you have the unrestricted right to work in the country where this position is located? * Select... Will you ever in the future need sponsorship to work in the country where this position is located? (If you are uncertain about your response to this question, please follow up with a member of the Recruiting team if you are contacted about possible next steps.) * Select... Candidate address: * Additionally, we’re always looking for great talent across all of our IDEO studios. If you are interested in hearing about future opportunities in the following geographies, please let us know by selecting from the following list: Cambridge, MA Chicago, IL London Shanghai None Do you have any past experience in a professional services / consulting / agency setting? * Legal Notice:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Checking this box means that you have read & acknowledge the notice above. * I have read and acknowledge this notice. Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in IDEO’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. Select... Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp . How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury
Disability Status Select... PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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