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Seating Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

EnCore

Senior Design Engineer

Huntington Beach, CA · On-site

$90K - $130K/yr

We offer customizable, pre-certified components and lightweight seating for new aircraft and ... With in-house design, engineering, and certification, we stay clearly ahead and deliver high ...

EnCore

Senior Design Engineer

Huntington Beach, CA

We offer customizable, pre-certified components and lightweight seating for new aircraft and ... With in-house design, engineering, and certification, we stay clearly ahead and deliver high ...

Rivian

Staff Mechanical Engineer - Restraints

Irvine, CA · On-site

$137K - $182K/yr

Seating Engineering is a place to be innovative and creative while contributing to a culture of trust and continuous improvement. Responsibilities * Lead the design and development of restraints for ...

Rivian

Staff Mechanical Engineer - Restraints

Irvine, CA · On-site

$137K - $182K/yr

Seating Engineering is a place to be innovative and creative while contributing to a culture of trust and continuous improvement. Responsibilities * Lead the design and development of restraints for ...

Rivian

Staff Mechanical Engineer - Restraints

Irvine, CA · On-site

$137K - $182K/yr

Seating Engineering is a place to be innovative and creative while contributing to a culture of trust and continuous improvement. Responsibilities * Lead the design and development of restraints for ...

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Seating Engineer information

What is a seating engineer?

Seating Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test seating systems for vehicles, ensuring they meet safety, comfort, and aesthetic requirements. They collaborate with designers, material specialists, and safety engineers to create seats that comply with regulatory standards and customer preferences. Their work includes selecting materials, developing ergonomic shapes, and integrating features like heating, ventilation, and electronic adjustments. Seating Engineers also conduct tests for durability, crash safety, and usability before seats go into production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a seating engineer?

To thrive as a Seating Engineer, you need expertise in mechanical engineering principles, ergonomic design, and materials science, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in engineering. Proficiency in CAD software (such as CATIA or SolidWorks), knowledge of industry standards, and familiarity with testing and prototyping tools are essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help set top candidates apart. These competencies are crucial for developing safe, comfortable, and innovative seating solutions that meet both regulatory and user requirements.

What are some typical challenges a seating engineer faces when balancing comfort, safety, and manufacturing constraints?

Seating Engineers often navigate the complex task of designing seats that meet stringent safety standards, deliver optimal comfort for a diverse user base, and remain cost-effective to manufacture. Balancing ergonomic requirements with crashworthiness and lightweight materials can be challenging, as improvements in one area may require compromises in another. Collaboration with design, testing, and manufacturing teams is crucial to ensure that the final product aligns with regulatory standards, aesthetic goals, and production timelines.

What is the difference between Seating Engineer vs Automotive Interior Designer?

AspectSeating EngineerAutomotive Interior Designer
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, CAD skills, certifications in automotive designDesign degree, CAD skills, focus on aesthetics and user experience
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, engineering labs, automotive companiesDesign studios, automotive OEMs, supplier companies
Employer & Industry UsageAutomotive manufacturers, suppliers, engineering firmsAutomotive OEMs, design studios, aftermarket companies

Seating Engineers focus on the technical development, safety, and functionality of vehicle seats, working closely with engineering teams. Automotive Interior Designers concentrate on the aesthetic, comfort, and user experience aspects of vehicle interiors. While both roles collaborate in vehicle design, Seating Engineers are more technical and engineering-oriented, whereas Interior Designers emphasize visual appeal and ergonomics.

What are popular job titles related to Seating Engineer jobs in California?

For Seating Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Seating Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Seating Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Seating Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Seating Engineer job openings:

Seating Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Seating Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Senior Seating and Restraints Architecture Engineer

Mountain View, CA • Hybrid

Waymo
Internet and IT • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Waymoexternal

$123K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Hardware Engineering is a diverse, innovative, and collaborative group of electrical, mechanical, reliability, software and vehicle engineers. We design, build, and perfect the products which are the eyes and ears of Waymo's autonomous driving technology, and integrate those products into vehicle platforms. This role is to take us further into the future of custom vehicle development for optimized customer experiences.

This role follows a hybrid work scheduling and you will report to a Director, Concepts and Pre Program Development.

You will:

  • Work with suppliers and partner OEMS along with Waymo's Product and ID teams to lead the concept and architecture development of unique seating systems which are optimized for ride hailing vehicles
  • Set comfort targets and work on novel seat comfort concepts which are optimized for ride hailing vehicles to achieve these targets
  • Benchmark competitor vehicles to validate these targets and ensure that when it comes to occupant accommodation, ergonomics, and comfort, Waymo vehicles are class leading
  • Support the optimization of ingress/egress for a highly diverse demographic across novel cabin topologies
  • Lead the concept development of restrain systems to allow unique cabin configurations
  • Support the development and execution of user clinics designed to optimize seat and restraint comfort for the purposes of ride hailing

You have:

  • 7 + years of related experience in the field of automotive seating and restraints concept development and execution
  • Proven experience with  seating comfort assessment and have hands-on experience with both subjective as well as quantitative methods of evaluations
  • Understanding of FMVSS, ECE, NCAP, IIHS regulation and test protocols to use an inputs in the creation restraints concepts
  • Experience with RAMSIS, CAVA, and Catia CAD tools to create, integrate and maintain 2D/3D seat concept layout and input into the Design Studio and CAE Analysis teams
  • Proven ability to create and negotiate targets and requirements with OEMs and partner companies/suppliers
  • Ability to work in an ambiguous world and find a path forward to resolve seemingly conflicting requirements

We prefer:

  • Min Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Masters is preferred
  • Experience in the future mobility sector, e.g. outside of the traditional OEM/personal car ownership model
  • Experience at more than one OEM, to give a broader perspective of Product Development methodologies
  • Experience in occupant package and vehicle layout specific to electric vehicles
  • An interest in the Autonomous Vehicle sector and how it is shaping future mobility

Travel requirements 

  • Global travel required for on-site OEM engagements (10%)
  • Occasional travel to other Waymo locations, suppliers, and service providers on an as-needed basis (10%)

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