Entry Level Thermal Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Who are We?

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

Learn more at https://fieldai.com.

About the Job

At FieldAI, we build autonomous robotic systems that operate in demanding, real-world environments where tight integration between hardware and software is critical. We're looking for a Mechanical Engineer to support system and component level design, integration, and validation for our wheeled robotic platforms across both federal and commercial programs.

Mechanical Systems Role: As a Mechanical Engineer on the Federal Team at Field AI, you will contribute to the design and implementation of mechanical systems that house and support sensing and compute platforms in real-world environments. From ruggedized enclosures to thermal management to manufacturability, your work will be critical to ensuring our systems operate reliably in the field. Responsibilities may span the full lifecycle from CAD through production to field support. You will collaborate closely with electrical, compute, and systems engineers to build tightly integrated solutions ready for deployment in challenging field environments.  Additionally while your focus will be on mechanical systems you will likely contribute across all hardware domains.

What You'll Get to Do

1. Mechanical System Design

• Structures: Design and model mechanical structures including external enclosures, internal compute frames, and load-bearing chassis.

• Mounts: Design and validate robust sensor mounts, payload attachment points, and mechanical interfaces.

• Ingress Protection: Implement IP-rated solutions with gaskets, seals, membranes, and coatings to meet water/dust ingress standards.

• Thermal Management: Incorporate thermal mitigation strategies such as fans, heat sinks, conductive paths, and airflow guides.

• Mass & Volume Budgets: Ensure adherence to payload constraints, including tight volumetric envelopes and weight limitations.

2. Mechanical System Implementation

• CAD & Simulation: Build detailed SolidWorks CAD assemblies. Run FEA and thermal simulations to validate strength, durability, and heat dissipation.

• Material & Component Selection: Choose materials and components to meet mass, strength, thermal, and manufacturability constraints.

• Design for Production: Apply DFM, DFA, DFS principles throughout the design lifecycle.

• System Testing: Conduct mechanical load testing (shock, vibration), thermal validation, ingress tests, and sensor alignment assessments.

• Prototyping: Rapidly iterate on prototypes for fit checks, thermal evaluations, and integration trials.

• Documentation & Budgets: Generate mechanical drawings, GD&T annotations, BOMs, and assembly instructions for fabrication and QA. Manage weight, volume, and thermal budgets.

3. Mechanical System Production & Servicing

• Build: Work with vendors and contract manufacturers to procure mechanical hardware. Develop QA checks for incoming units. Support payload integration and scaling.

• Debug: Investigate mechanical failures, deformation, and environmental weaknesses during testing and deployments.

• Monitor: Develop protocols for monitoring the system mechanical health and loads.

What You Have

• Education: B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.

• Experience Level: We are recruiting across a wide range of experience levels from entry level engineers to senior and staff engineers.

• CAD Expertise: Proficient with SolidWorks or equivalent mechanical CAD platforms.

• Thermal & Structural Analysis: Familiarity with FEA and thermal modeling tools.

• Field-Ready Design: Experience designing hardware that survives vibration, shock, thermal cycling, and environmental exposure.

• Manufacturing Knowledge: Experience designing for CNC, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, and assembly workflows.

• Mechanical Systems Integration: Experience working across teams to integrate mechanical systems with compute, sensors, and power electronics.

• Lab Skills: Comfort with mechanical debugging, thermal test setups, vibration tables, and ingress testing.

• Cross Functional Robotic Skills: Ability to contribute electrical, sensing, and embedded computing work to deliver robust integrated systems.

What Will Set You Apart

• Scaling:  Experience taking systems from prototype to large scale production.

• Field Environments: Experience developing systems for harsh field environments.

• Deployed Robotics: Experience working on robotics deployed in real world settings such as autonomous vehicles, drones, or ruggedized robots.

• Systems Level Robotics: Fluency across mechanical, electrical, and software systems.

• Reliability Engineering: Experience designing to meet IP ratings, MIL-STD, or equivalent ruggedness standards.

$70,000 - $300,000 a year

This position is for our FieldAI Federal Team.  This team works on projects connected to the U.S. government which requires U.S. Person eligibility.  A U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R  120.62 includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) refugee or asylee.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $70,000-$300,000.  The actual offer for this position will be based on factors such as relevant experience, competencies, certifications, and how well the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above. Part of our compensation package also includes full benefits, equity, and generous time off. 

Field AI Onsite Work Philosophy

At Field AI, we believe the most effective way to collaborate and solve complex challenges is by working together in person. This is a fully onsite role, and candidates will be expected to work from our Irvine, CA office. In-person engagement is essential to our success, and we offer flexible working hours to support focus and work-life balance.

Why Join Field AI?

We are solving one of the world's most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision - innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We're seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates. 

Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.