Senior Mechanical Engineer – Energy Storage Solutions

About the role

Solar MD is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to turn 3D models into locally manufactured products on its factory floor. You will own the physical architecture, structural integrity, and thermal performance of energy‑storage solutions, bridging R&D simulations with CNC punching, bending, and laser‑cutting operations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering of sheet‑metal enclosures, internal rack architectures, and custom mechanical sub‑assemblies using SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor.
• Develop and execute thermal‑management strategies, running CFD simulations to keep cell temperatures within strict limits.
• Optimize designs for manufacturing (DFM) by collaborating with production lines to reduce scrap, improve laser‑cutting, precision bending, welding and powder‑coating processes.
• Guide products through safety and structural compliance, including IP54/IP65 ratings, load testing, and South African National Standards (SANS) codes.
• Work closely with electronic design (BMS/EMS) and assembly teams to ensure seamless mechanical‑to‑electrical integration.

Required profile

• BEng, BSc or BTech in Mechanical Engineering; ECSA registration is a plus.
• Minimum 6 years of heavy mechanical design experience in sectors such as e‑mobility, automotive, power electronics or automated manufacturing.
• Proven experience with local South African supply chains, steel grades and SANS compliance frameworks.
• Hands‑on attitude – comfortable diagnosing issues on the factory floor.

Required skills

• Advanced SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor proficiency.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and thermal fluid simulation tools.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for thermal management.
• Sheet‑metal design, including bend deductions, tolerance stack‑ups and structural steel limits.
• CNC punching, laser cutting, precision bending and powder‑coating processes.