Senior Mechanical Research Engineer, Physical R&D

Overview

Design experiments and simulations to develop and validate mechanical sensing systems for the electrical grid.

Key Responsibilities

• team collaboration
• physical experiments
• hil testing
• sensor selection
• requirements development
• simulation design

Tasks

You’ll bridge the gap between research and engineering, designing experiments, simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop tests that reveal how real-world phenomena - like faults, shocks, or environmental events - translate into measurable signals. Your work will strengthen the grid’s “reflexes,” enabling faster detection, smarter response, and safer communities. -Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, product development engineers, and product managers. -Develop physical experiments and hardware-in-the loop testbeds to emulate real-world phenomena and answer scientific questions about technology performance. -Lead the development of product requirements for physical measurements: define the performance needed to measure the meaningful mechanical phenomena that occur around the electrical grid. Select and test sensors to these requirements using methods you develop.

Requirements

• matlab
• python
• ms mechanical
• phd
• mechatronics
• iot

What You Bring

This is a highly hands-on, experiment-driven role at the intersection of physics, engineering, and data - ideal for someone who loves using physical intuition, computation, and experimentation to solve real-world problems. -Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for simulation, data analysis, and scientific computing. -Understanding of measurement system theory, calibration, and validation. -MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with 7+ years of industry experience, or PhD with 5+ years. -Proven ability to lead cross-functional research initiatives with tight timelines. -Experience prototyping and testing mechatronic or robotic systems end-to-end (design → build → test → analyze). -Own and be the subject matter expert for our product measurement chains: from the underlying physics of the mechanical phenomena we detect, to their translation into sensor voltage changes, to their algorithmic implementation in firmware. -Strong fundamentals in dynamics, kinematics, mechanics of materials, vibrations, and/or robotics. -Familiarity with IoT or sensor-integrated systems that capture dynamic, real-world data. -Proven track record developing and validating performance requirements for physical, mechatronic, or sensing systems. -Hands-on experience designing and executing physical experiments, ideally involving dynamic or vibration-based systems. -Strong background in applied mathematics (linear algebra, ODEs, numerical methods, or dynamical systems).

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Benefits

Paid parental leave Alternating day off (every other Monday) Commuter allowance “Off the Grid”, a two week per year paid break for all employees. Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum with some providers plans fully covered) Company-paid training

About Gridware

-Founded by a former lineman and two Berkeley engineers to revolutionize power grid awareness. -Flagship Gridscope device provides edge analytics and alerts even during outages. -Technology integrates multiple types of sensing to detect hazards like fallen limbs. -After a pilot with PG&E, expanded operations across North America. -Physical tests include extreme conditions like live wire cutting to optimize hazard detection. -Combines solar-powered, ruggedized sensors with a cloud-independent analytics system.

Sector Specialisms