Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
Mechanical engineer jobs in Palo Alto are concentrated along the California Avenue corridor, in the Stanford Research Park, and in the East Embarcadero district, with steady demand from employers in aerospace hardware, medical devices, semiconductor equipment, and clean energy. Employers hiring right now include Tesla, Rivian, and Pivotal. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 36+ Mechanical Engineer jobs
Tesla Energy is bringing battery, solar, and charging technologies to the grid, establishing new industries and defining the future of renewable energy ecosystems. This role is at the forefront of how we will distribute and consume power today and in the future.
The Charging Hardware Mechanical Design team is looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual to take ownership over mechanical design of key sub-systems for our Semi Charging and Supercharging products. The role requires strong fundamentals, a passion to push the boundaries of technology and the tenacity to make your designs successful. Tesla operates under compressed timelines, so being self-motivated, disciplined, and resilient is critical. You’ll collaborate with fun, diverse group of engineers, working to design world class charging hardware.
In this role you will be responsible for major sub-system architecture decisions, detailed design and simulation, and hardcore mechanical design of the Semi Truck Charging ecosystem.
What You'll Do
- Modeling and design of mechanical components and assemblies including sheet metal, structural metals, high voltage distribution, plastics, environmental sealing materials, fasteners, and other components
- Mechanical design analysis including structural finite element analysis, design for assembly, design for manufacturing, and design for test
- Thermal analysis and design, including PCBA thermal management and HV conductor design
- Work with cross-functional teams to refine specifications and achieve product performance, aesthetic, schedule, cost, reliability, and quality targets
- Collaborate with thermal, systems, electrical, sourcing, manufacturing, and reliability teams to take designs from prototype through mass production
- Develop engineering test plans for designs
- Assist in engineering prototype builds and component fabrication
- Root cause and solve test failures and production problems
- Create high quality drawing packages and manufacturing instructions for parts and assemblies
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Experience designing for high-volume assembly and manufacturing
- Experience designing products with a large bill of materials
- Experience designing products for outdoor environments, including IP/NEMA environmental seals
- Experience with PCBA packaging and electrical contact design
- Strong engineering fundamentals in mechanics, heat transfer, and fluids
- Experience with various manufacturing processes such as metal stamping, extruding, welding/brazing, plating, heat treating, plastic injection molding, thermoforming, and bonding
- Experience defining test plans, designing test setups, and analyzing data
- Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 experience a plus but not mandatory
- Experience with PLM systems, engineering changes, deviations, BOM structuring, etc.
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
- Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
- Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
- Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
- Tesla Babies program
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.
Tesla Energy is bringing battery, solar, and charging technologies to the grid, establishing new industries and defining the future of renewable energy ecosystems. This role is at the forefront of how we will distribute and consume power today and in the future.
The Charging Hardware Mechanical Design team is looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual to take ownership over mechanical design of key sub-systems for our Semi Charging and Supercharging products. The role requires strong fundamentals, a passion to push the boundaries of technology and the tenacity to make your designs successful. Tesla operates under compressed timelines, so being self-motivated, disciplined, and resilient is critical. You’ll collaborate with fun, diverse group of engineers, working to design world class charging hardware.
In this role you will be responsible for major sub-system architecture decisions, detailed design and simulation, and hardcore mechanical design of the Semi Truck Charging ecosystem.
What You'll Do
- Modeling and design of mechanical components and assemblies including sheet metal, structural metals, high voltage distribution, plastics, environmental sealing materials, fasteners, and other components
- Mechanical design analysis including structural finite element analysis, design for assembly, design for manufacturing, and design for test
- Thermal analysis and design, including PCBA thermal management and HV conductor design
- Work with cross-functional teams to refine specifications and achieve product performance, aesthetic, schedule, cost, reliability, and quality targets
- Collaborate with thermal, systems, electrical, sourcing, manufacturing, and reliability teams to take designs from prototype through mass production
- Develop engineering test plans for designs
- Assist in engineering prototype builds and component fabrication
- Root cause and solve test failures and production problems
- Create high quality drawing packages and manufacturing instructions for parts and assemblies
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Experience designing for high-volume assembly and manufacturing
- Experience designing products with a large bill of materials
- Experience designing products for outdoor environments, including IP/NEMA environmental seals
- Experience with PCBA packaging and electrical contact design
- Strong engineering fundamentals in mechanics, heat transfer, and fluids
- Experience with various manufacturing processes such as metal stamping, extruding, welding/brazing, plating, heat treating, plastic injection molding, thermoforming, and bonding
- Experience defining test plans, designing test setups, and analyzing data
- Proficiency in CAD modeling. CATIA V5/V6 experience a plus but not mandatory
- Experience with PLM systems, engineering changes, deviations, BOM structuring, etc.
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
- Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
- Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
- Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
- Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
- Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
- Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
- Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
- Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
- Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
- Tesla Babies program
- Commuter benefits
- Employee discounts and perks program
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.
See All 36 Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto
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Find Mechanical Engineer JobsMechanical Engineer Job Market in Palo Alto
Who's Hiring
- Tesla26
- Rivian3
- Pivotal2
- SRI International2
- Also1
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing15
- Technology & Software4
Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mechanical engineer job in Palo Alto?
Focus your search on the Stanford Research Park and California Avenue corridor, where hardware startups, medical device firms, and semiconductor equipment companies cluster. Employers in Palo Alto tend to favor candidates with hands-on prototyping experience and familiarity with CAD platforms like SolidWorks or CATIA. Referrals carry significant weight here, so attending Bay Area engineering meetups and tapping Stanford alumni networks can give you a real edge over remote applicants.
Which companies hire mechanical engineers in Palo Alto?
Employers hiring mechanical engineers in Palo Alto right now include Tesla, Rivian, and Pivotal, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Palo Alto's employer mix skews toward deep-tech hardware companies, medical device developers, and defense contractors with engineering offices near the Stanford Research Park.
Are there remote mechanical engineer jobs in Palo Alto?
Yes, but only for a subset of the work, since mechanical engineering roles that involve lab testing, prototyping, or manufacturing floor oversight are almost always on-site. About 0% of mechanical engineer openings tied to Palo Alto are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, covering roles where design review, simulation, and technical documentation make up the bulk of daily output. Thermal modeling, FEA analysis, and systems engineering positions are the most likely to offer flexible arrangements.
How can I get a mechanical engineer job in Palo Alto with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Palo Alto is through a co-op or internship at one of the Stanford Research Park companies, many of which convert strong interns to full-time hires. Look for roles titled junior mechanical engineer, mechanical design associate, or test equipment technician at medical device and cleantech firms, which tend to have more structured entry-level pipelines than early-stage hardware startups. Building a portfolio of CAD models and any hands-on fabrication projects will differentiate you among candidates who only have coursework to show.
Which industries hire the most mechanical engineers in Palo Alto?
The sectors hiring the most mechanical engineers in Palo Alto are Manufacturing and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Palo Alto's concentration of venture-backed hardware companies and proximity to Stanford's engineering programs keeps demand in those sectors consistently above what you would see in a typical Bay Area city.
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See All 36 Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Palo Alto
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