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Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry ...

CAE Engineer

San Jose, CA

$149K - $297K/yr

... FEA simulations are conducted with speed, efficiency, and precision. Through a comprehensive ... We are seeking a CAE Engineer to create innovative end-to-end modeling and simulation solutions ...

Who We're Looking For As an Simulation Engineer - FEA, you will build hands-on experience applying ... Working at the intersection of CAE and Data Science to generate high-quality simulation datasets ...

Who We're Looking For As an Simulation Engineer - FEA, you will build hands-on experience applying ... Working at the intersection of CAE and Data Science to generate high-quality simulation datasets ...

Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry ...

Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry ...

Support new product development (NPD) through CAE simulations, including CFD and FEA ... Support the Advanced Engineering team in the research and development of new to market products and ...

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Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer information

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How much do entry level cae fea engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level cae fea engineer in the United States is $33.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.92 and $37.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer vs Entry Level Mechanical Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Cae Fea EngineerEntry Level Mechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field; basic knowledge of CAE/FEA toolsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; foundational engineering principles
Work EnvironmentDesign firms, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing industriesManufacturing plants, design departments, R&D labs
Common UsageFocuses on finite element analysis, simulation, and stress testingDesign, analysis, and testing of mechanical systems

Entry Level Cae Fea Engineers primarily specialize in simulation and finite element analysis to evaluate product durability, while Entry Level Mechanical Engineers work broadly on designing and testing mechanical systems. Both roles require a bachelor's degree but differ in technical focus and daily tasks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level CAE FEA Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level CAE FEA Engineer, you need a solid understanding of engineering fundamentals, finite element analysis (FEA) concepts, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAE software such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or HyperMesh, and possibly certification in these tools, is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you interpret results and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are essential to ensure accurate simulations, efficient workflow, and valuable contributions to product design and validation processes.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level CAE/FEA Engineers when transitioning from academic projects to industry applications?

Entry-level CAE/FEA Engineers often find that real-world engineering problems are more complex and less defined than academic assignments. In the workplace, you'll frequently need to interpret ambiguous requirements, work with incomplete data, and ensure your simulations align closely with physical testing and customer needs. Collaborating with senior engineers and cross-functional teams is crucial to learn best practices, validate your results, and iterate quickly. Developing strong communication skills and a willingness to ask questions will help you overcome these initial hurdles and grow in the role.

What are Entry Level CAE FEA Engineers?

Entry Level CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) FEA (Finite Element Analysis) Engineers are professionals who use specialized software to simulate and analyze how products or structures will react to real-world forces such as heat, vibration, and stress. They typically work in industries like automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing, helping to improve product designs and ensure safety and durability. As entry-level engineers, they assist senior analysts, set up simulations, interpret results, and help optimize designs under the guidance of more experienced engineers. Their role is crucial in reducing the need for costly physical prototypes and speeding up the product development process.
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What cities are hiring for Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Cae Fea Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Cae Fea Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Cae Fea Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Locum Tenens, 31% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,055 per year, or $33.2 per hour.

Mechanical Engineer

Chariot Defense

San Bruno, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

About the Role 

Chariot Defense is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team, reporting to the Powertrain Lead Engineer. In this role, you will conceptualize, design, develop, and test advanced mechanical and power electronic systems, including fully integrated vehicle platforms. You will work across multidisciplinary engineering and design teams to ensure our systems meet stringent MIL-STD performance, endurance and reliability, and security requirements for deployment in demanding environments, performing critical missions. 

Key Responsibilities 
  • Design Ownership: Own hardware design from initial requirements to concept and prototyping to series production, and beyond, in service and field deployment, as an end-to-end owner of subsystems.
  • Integrated Systems: Develop mechanical designs that involve the complex and multivariable mechanical integration of next-gen energy storage, advanced material types, complex thermal solutions, power electronic hardware, dense PCBAs, and efficient harnessing for the tightest packaged, most efficient, and highest performing end-product. 
  • Rapid Iteration: Prototype rapidly to find issues fast, debug, iterate, and develop a final, field-deployable product on compressed timelines, closely managing risk vs. reward, effort vs. return, and balancing schedules and budget with capability and performance.
  • Design for Mass Manufacturing: Design mechanical, thermal, electro-mechanical components and assemblies, and integrated power systems, for volume manufacturing from the get-go. 
  • Direct Customer Engagement: Support critical customer-facing hardware demonstrations, from time to time, and use these interactions to better understand the customers' requirements and application needs.
What We're Looking For 
  • Top-notch engineering intuition and first principles thinking toward designing complex products that function seamlessly for your customer, taking both an engineering/ technical, and product/ customer approach, to strike the optimal balance.
  • Able to independently identify critical information or priority gaps and apply effort toward closing those gaps.
  • Undaunted by imperfect, incomplete or absent datasets or information, and capable of making sound, comprehensive, and swift first-principled decisions to achieve a product end-state that meets and/or exceeds the need of the hour.
  • Not satisfied by superficial explanations of a problem or "band-aid engineering"; seeks persistently to find the specific root cause through data-driven methods, and resolve failures or recurring issues, so they can be mitigated to prevent future such instances.
  • Gratified by helping your peers succeed, building a robust team culture, and propagation deep camaraderie amongst your peers; seeks to break down information silos by collaborating rigorously with others to solve problems, share knowledge, and provide input.
Qualifications Required
  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
  • Experience in an immersive system design project or research study/ thesis, in collegiate project teams (e.g.: SAE, FSAE, BAJA, others), other extracurricular participation, or professional settings.
  • A minimum of 2+ years of experience in a technical engineering, design, or product role in a professional setting.
  • Proven 3D CAD skills (any platform, but SOLIDWORKS preferred), as well as CAE/ FEA experience, and the ability to produce high-quality engineering 2D drawings that comply with common industry standards (e.g.: GD&T, ASME standards etc.)
  • Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals in structures, materials, fluids and aero, thermal, controls, mechanics/ dynamics, system modeling, and fundamentals of physics.
  • Manufacturing knowledge & experience with machine shops (sheet metal, CNC, lathe, sand casting, forging, die-casting etc.).
  • Rapid prototyping background (structures/electronics/software) & 3D printing knowledge.
  • Proficient in hands-on prototyping (machining, shop tools, welding, soldering), and demonstrated hands-on fabrication skills.
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD, DO-160, or other automotive, defense, and aerospace standards.
Preferred
  • Experience designing and working directly with low and high voltage systems, high current/ high voltage power distribution, high voltage safety, and thermal management of lithium-ion batteries (or other energy storage) and voltage regulating power electronics.
  • Experience in industries/ applications requiring high-reliability embedded power electronics operated in austere environments, and testing exposure for lifecycle, abuse, and endurance tests.
  • MATLAB/ SIMULINK/ SIMSCAPE experience, as well as experience with any or several CAE/ FEA tools such as ANSYS, Fluent, Star CCM+, Abaqus, Comsol Multiphysics, Hyperworks etc.
  • Experience with any or several instrumentation, scripting, communication and measurement tools such as LabVIEW, DIAdem, DAQs, PEAK (PCAN), Vector (CANape, CANoe etc.), Python.
  • Experience with any or several data, content, and product lifecycle management systems like Confluence, JIRA, Polarion, Tableau, Teamcenter etc.
  • Experience with any or several common sensors and sensing methods (such as thermocouples, force/ load sensors, flow sensors, voltage probes, current clamps etc.), sensor integration, and sensor data post processing/ filtering.
  • Advanced designing skills for CNC machining, composites/ CFRPs, sheet metal, injection molding, PCBA integration.
Role Requirements
  • This position is an onsite role based in Chariot Defense's San Bruno, CA, office. 
  • Willingness to support 10% travel, domestically and internationally, as well as work extended and weekend hours, when necessary 
  • Able to work on your feet for extended periods in a shop setting. 
  • Able to lift and carry 50lbs. 

A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $130,000-$180,000 annually. Compensation packages also include early-stage equity and access to company-sponsored benefit plans.