Senior Product Design Engineer

Summary

Join Instacart's Caper team as a Product Design Engineer and shape the future of retail automation technology. You will lead the mechanical design, analysis, assembly, and reliability of Caper's smart cart systems, from initial concept to mass production. This role demands collaboration with cross-functional teams, including industrial design, project management, electrical engineering, software, and AI. You will conduct thorough testing and analysis to ensure designs meet market demands, comply with regulations, and deliver a superior user experience. The position requires a strong background in mechanical engineering, hands-on prototyping, and high-volume manufacturing techniques. This is a remote role with a competitive salary and benefits package, including equity grants.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience of hands-on product design and development experience in high volume consumer electronics, including complex subsystems and/or full systems ownership
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals, skill in making prototypes, and ability to draw in 3D and 2D
• Testing and analysis experience (TA, DFMEA, Design of Experiments, etc.)
• Experience in material properties, such as plastics, metal, adhesive, and glass plus high-volume manufacturing techniques (stamping, machining, 3D printing, injection molding, etc
• Agile mindset for fast-paced iteration
• Excellent communication to bridge engineering/product/market teams
• Problem-solving for real-world mechanical failures
• Fluent in Mandarin

Responsibilities

• Understand the market and user needs. Ensure designs meet market demands and improve user experience
• Convert market and user needs into technical solutions, performance requirements, and strategies. Define design specifications, technical standards, and testing guidelines to enhance product competitiveness
• Lead structural design of smart cart systems from concept to mass production, focusing on durability, ergonomics, manufacturability (DFM), and cost-efficiency
• Execute quick-turn prototypes (3D printing, CNC, sheet metal) to validate designs and accelerate iteration cycles
• Work with cross-functional teams (PM/EE/SW) to build and test prototypes
• Conduct computer strength tests (using FEA). Then, do real-world tests that include shaking, impact, and bearing weight. Ensure the design complies with official regulations, such as FCC/CE and UL standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Portfolio showcasing retail/commercial hardware products
• Experience with waterproofing (IP ratings), thermal management, or modular design
• Knowledge of how to integrate electronics and mechanics, such as circuit boards, sensors, and batteries
• Knowledge with regulatory certification processes (UL, ETL, FCC)

Benefits

• Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work
• This role is remote
• This role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants