Mechanical Engineer

Hi! We're Charcoal

The world is filled with primitive, dull products that don’t add much value to our lives. A desk is just a surface to hold things up. An article of clothing is just a surface on our skin. We're changing that by leveraging great design and engineering to unlock the potential of these everyday products that have remained stagnant for centuries.

Check out our award-winning intelligent desk - www.charcoal.inc

And what's cooking now - https://www.charcoal.inc/products/charcoal-case

We're looking for a versatile Mechanical Engineer who thrives at the intersection of engineering and execution. You’ll be part of a small, fast-moving team building lifestyle products that are sold globally, starting in the US. This is not a conventional desk-only design role — you’ll be expected to design, source, prototype, and also roll up your sleeves to drive production and vendor coordination.

If you’re someone who enjoys building real products and wants to see them come alive in the real world, this is for you.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical systems and components, utilizing CAD and FEA software
• Ideate concepts and develop prototypes
• Design jigs and fixtures for ease of manufacturing
• Plan and execute testing procedures, analyze results and implement improvements
• Create detailed BOMs and manufacturing drawings with tolerances, material specs, and assembly methods
• Identify and onboard reliable suppliers, especially in India and Southeast Asia
• Drive first article inspections (FAI), pilot builds, and production runs with vendors
• Own timelines for sampling, tooling, and delivery; chase vendors when needed
• Troubleshoot quality issues, manufacturing bottlenecks, or delays with urgency and discipline

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of relevant experience in product design
• DFM & manufacturing knowledge
• Hands-on experience in rapid prototyping & 3D printing
• Bias for action - you’re comfortable chasing a vendor, fixing a sample, or debugging a BOM
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• First-principles problem-solving approach for root cause analysis and action
• Attention to detail in design, analysis, & documentation
• Application engineering skills to identify & select various COTS items
• Ability to balance perfection with speed - you know when to iterate and when to ship
• Be a nerd about products