Mechanical Engineer – Field Integrations

About the role

We are looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to industrialize the field assembly of Rondo's modular thermal battery systems. The ideal candidate thinks like a manufacturing engineer in a construction environment—creating robust, scalable processes that deliver consistent quality, cost, and schedule performance despite variability in labor, equipment, and site conditions.

Responsibilities

• Create and standardize field assembly processes, turning complex construction activities into repeatable, scalable operations that can be executed consistently by third-party contractors.
• Partner with product engineering to incorporate Design for Installation (DFI) requirements into product architecture, ensuring modules can be assembled safely, repeatedly, and efficiently by third-party contractors in varying site conditions.
• Participate in design and construction readiness reviews, establishing release criteria and ensuring field integration deliverables are complete before project execution.
• Help define site assembly approaches, identify assembly datums, tolerance strategies, interface requirements, and module tolerances required to ensure fitment.
• Partner with product engineering early in development to eliminate unnecessary site work, tooling, lifting operations, and installation complexity.
• Develop fixturing, packaging, and transport solutions that are integrated into factory-built modules and remain effective through shipping, storage, and installation.
• Develop packaging and logistics strategies spanning factory release through final installation, including shipping configuration, storage, material flow, and point-of-use delivery.
• Develop lifting, handling, transport, alignment, positioning, and installation tooling for modular assemblies.
• Develop methods of locating modules relative to a central datum system while minimizing cumulative tolerance stack-up.
• Develop joining processes and tooling for interfaces between modules.
• Develop leveling and alignment strategies that prevent vertical and horizontal tolerance accumulation.
• Create scalable installation standards, work instructions, training materials, and quality plans suitable for deployment across multiple global contractors.
• Create MBOMs for modules including tooling, packaging, and installation consumables.
• Perform offline assembly, shipping, handling, and installation validation testing.
• Develop labor models, equipment requirements, installation sequencing, and productivity assumptions used to establish project schedules and cost estimates.
• Support project execution through on-site training, commissioning support, and field issue resolution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline.
• 3-8 years of experience developing manufacturing, assembly, construction, or industrial installation processes for large-scale hardware systems.
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks) with the ability to visualize and communicate complex assembly and construction sequences.
• Strong understanding of geometric tolerancing, datum structures, tolerance stack-up analysis, and field fit-up strategies.
• Ability to identify and eliminate unnecessary complexity through product, process, and tooling design.
• Experience developing products, tooling, or assembly processes through the full engineering lifecycle, including concept development, design reviews, prototyping, procurement, testing, validation, and release.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, or operations teams.
• Strong structured problem-solving skills and data-driven decision making.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and lean construction methodologies.
• Practical, solutions-oriented mindset focused on achieving the simplest effective solution – the best solution is not needing a solution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate engineering designs into clear installation and construction documentation.
• Ability to anticipate field variability and design robust processes that succeed despite imperfect site conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to independently drive projects from concept through implementation.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical Benefits
• Dental & Vision Benefits
• Life Insurance and ADD
• Up to 13 paid holidays per year, in addition to a company week-long holiday in December
• Flexible time off policy
• Catered lunches on-site
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Rondo HQ is close to Oakland airport - one block from the Bay - and has stunning Bay views!

Pay

The estimated annual salary range for this role is $115,000 to $125,000 and it would be eligible for Rondo's excellent benefits listed above plus additional compensation in the form of equity.

Schedule

This role necessitates being on-site at our Alameda HQ several times per week.