Product Design (Mechanical Engineering) Co-Op

About the Role

Samsara is seeking a Product Design (Mechanical Engineering) co-op to join their team in San Francisco. This role involves working on the mechanical aspects of product design, considering feasibility, design, and cost studies for enclosure architecture, materials selection, and thermal management. The co-op will collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams including Product Management, EE, FW, EPM, NPI, and Hardware leadership. Support from Supply Chain, laboratories, JDM design resources, and the supply base is available.

• Co-op Duration: January - June 2027 (minimum 6 months commitment)
• Location: San Francisco office. Co-ops are required in-office Tuesdays to Thursdays, with remote workdays on Mondays and Fridays.
• Support: Relocation and housing support are provided for the duration of the co-op.

Eligibility

• Must be attending a university that supports full-time work as part of a 6-month co-op OR allows 2 quarters or one semester off for a co-op.
• Not accepting first-year co-op students.
• Ideally, an undergraduate junior with previous internship and/or co-op experience.
• Target graduation timeline: May-June 2028.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to shipping successful product lines.
• Conduct research on the latest materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical technologies from suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Evaluate system feature tradeoffs and create system specifications with product management and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Prototype proof-of-concept models using 3D printing, CNC machining, or quick-turn fabrication.
• Design products from industrial design intent through detailed CAD, part and assembly design, and production drawings, including enclosures, wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, and product packaging.
• Create validation plans for product development phases and characterize mechanical system performance for ingress protection, drop, shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental factors.
• Install, evaluate, and troubleshoot products on vehicles and industrial equipment to understand mounting, cable routing, and real-world use conditions.
• Perform failure analysis to identify root causes of inefficiencies and field failures, and improve designs.
• Manage relationships with external partners including JDM companies, tooling vendors, and certification labs.
• Champion and embed Samsara's cultural principles.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• CAD: Siemens NX for part, assembly, and drawing knowledge, including GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Prototyping & Test Equipment: Hands-on experience with 3D printers, machine shop tools, environmental chambers, and drop/vibration test fixtures.
• Familiarity with:
• Injection molding
• Sheet metal
• Gaskets and seals for IP-rated enclosures
• Adhesives
• Fasteners
• Wiring harnesses and cable assemblies
• Product packaging
• Cross-functional EE topics (e.g., PCBA's, antennas, batteries, connectors) is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in progress in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• Second or third-time co-op or Master level co-op students are preferred.
• Prior intern or co-op experience working on high-volume hardware programs.
• Solid fundamentals in mechanical design, materials, mechanics of materials, and thermal management.
• Ability to navigate tradeoffs between design, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Comfort working directly on vehicles and industrial equipment.
• Strong ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive independent work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.