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Part Time Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA

Saratech

Design Solutions COE

Mission Viejo, CA · Remote

$70K - $100K/yr

Bachelor 's or Master's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field ... All full-time and part-time employees will receive 40 sick hours per year or minimum sick time ...

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All JobsMechanical Engineer JobsPart Time Mechanical Engineer JobsPart Time Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Riverside, CA

Part Time Mechanical Engineer information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$47.5K

$107.3K

$173.7K

How much do part time mechanical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for part time mechanical engineer in Riverside, CA is $107,329.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $132,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a part time mechanical engineer do?

As a part-time mechanical engineer, you design and build mechanical systems that meet the requirements of a given project. You may use calculation techniques to determine the construction requirements of each device, coordinate with other engineers to design it, and use software to detail the engineering specifications. You typically support full-time engineers, particularly because companies who need new devices usually want them as soon as possible. Depending on the needs of the project, you may also travel to factories or work sites, discuss potential devices with customers, and give presentations. You often work through contracts, but you may work exclusively for an employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a part time mechanical engineer?

To succeed as a Part Time Mechanical Engineer, you typically need a degree in mechanical engineering, strong problem-solving skills, and experience with engineering principles. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry-specific certifications like EIT or PE are commonly required. Effective communication, time management, and adaptability are important soft skills for balancing multiple projects and collaborating with teams. These competencies ensure that even in a part-time capacity, engineers deliver high-quality solutions and contribute effectively to organizational goals.

How does working part time as a mechanical engineer impact project involvement and collaboration with full-time team members?

Part time mechanical engineers typically focus on specific tasks or phases of a project, which means clear communication and efficient documentation are essential for seamless collaboration. You may be assigned to design reviews, prototyping, or troubleshooting, working closely with full-time colleagues who handle broader project management. While you might not always be present for every team meeting, most companies utilize digital tools and flexible scheduling to keep part-time staff integrated and informed. This structure allows you to make meaningful contributions while balancing other commitments.

What is the difference between Part Time Mechanical Engineer vs Mechanical Designer?

AspectPart Time Mechanical EngineerMechanical Designer
CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, possibly PE licenseBachelor's or higher in Mechanical Engineering or Design
Work EnvironmentManufacturing, product development, consultingCAD drafting, product design, prototyping
Employer UsageEngineering firms, manufacturing companiesDesign firms, R&D departments

Part Time Mechanical Engineers focus on applying engineering principles to develop and analyze mechanical systems, often working on projects requiring technical expertise. Mechanical Designers primarily create detailed drawings and models for manufacturing, emphasizing CAD skills. While both roles require mechanical engineering knowledge, the engineer's role is more analytical, whereas the designer's role centers on drafting and design documentation.

How much does a part time mechanical engineer make?

Part-time mechanical engineers typically earn between $20 and $40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Salaries can vary based on industry, certifications, and whether the role involves specialized skills or tools. Many part-time positions also offer flexible schedules and opportunities for skill development.
More about Part Time Mechanical Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Mechanical Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA?

The most popular types of Mechanical Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Part Time Mechanical Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Part Time Mechanical Engineer jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Part Time Mechanical Engineer jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Part Time Mechanical Engineer job openings:

Part Time Mechanical Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Part Time Mechanical Engineer job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,329 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Mechanical Engineer, Robotics Hardware - Part-Time Internship

FieldAI

Irvine, CA

Part-time, Internship

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

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.
 
Hardware Team: The Hardware Team at Field AI develops perception and compute payloads that power autonomous robotics systems in complex real world environments. Our work spans the full hardware stack designing and integrating sensing systems (LiDAR, camera, TOF, IMU, GPS), embedded compute (CPUs, GPUs, microcontrollers, Linux, ROS), electrical systems (power distribution, communication), and mechanical components (structures, thermal regulation, ingress protection). The team focuses on both development (research, design, prototyping, testing) and operations (production, testing, QA, debugging). We're a small, fast-moving team, and we care deeply about improving: 1) core capabilities, 2) system reliability, 3) system scalability. As a growing team we are also building operational systems and procedures from the ground up. 
 
Mechanical Systems Internship Role: As a Mechanical Engineer Intern on the Hardware 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 Will Get To Do
 
 
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.
 
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.
 
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: Current student pursuing a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
  • 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.
$35 - $45 an hour
Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 
 
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.
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