At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mechanical engineering projects and design high-performance systems for cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Join OLIX, a fast-growing tech company revolutionising the industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, stock options, retirement plans, and a living-local bonus.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of a team shaping the future of technology and infrastructure.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in complex product development.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About OLIX AI is growing faster than any technology in history and the explosion in demand has created a massive infrastructure gap; we can no longer build chips or power stations fast enough to keep up. The industry is still leaning on a ten-year-old hardware blueprint that has reached its limit. A new paradigm that is faster and more efficient will be the biggest economic opportunity of the next century and create the most important company of the next decade. The OLIX Decode Accelerator 1 (DX-1) is the first accelerator architected specifically for decode.
The Role We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead and grow our mechanical engineering organisation. This role spans technical leadership, team development, and hands‑on engineering oversight across the full product lifecycle — from concept and architecture through to production and field support. You will drive the delivery of complex mechanical systems, enclosures, and thermal solutions while building the culture, capability, and processes that enable your team to do their best work. The position requires close collaboration across Electronics, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, and Product Management teams.
Responsibilities
- Mechanical Engineering Delivery
- Design and develop mechanical systems for high-performance compute platforms and associated infrastructure, including chassis, enclosures, structural assemblies, cooling systems, and rack‑integrated hardware.
- Own the mechanical architecture of assigned products and subsystems from concept through validation, production release, and lifecycle support.
- Develop solutions that balance thermal performance, mechanical robustness, serviceability, manufacturability, scalability, and cost.
- Create detailed CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and technical documentation.
- Design components and assemblies suitable for manufacture using sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, casting, moulding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing processes.
- Define mechanical interfaces between compute, networking, power, optical, and cooling subsystems.
- Support the development of scalable infrastructure platforms capable of deployment in modern data centre environments.
- Technical Leadership
- Provide technical leadership for mechanical and thermal design activities within assigned projects.
- Lead design reviews and contribute to system architecture discussions across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Develop mechanical architectures that support high-density compute platforms and future product scalability.
- Drive thermal management strategies including airflow optimisation, liquid cooling integration, heat rejection, and system‑level thermal performance.
- Develop serviceability, maintainability, and deployment strategies for rack‑scale hardware platforms.
- Perform engineering trade‑off analysis considering thermal performance, reliability, manufacturability, deployment complexity, and total cost of ownership.
- Apply Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Reliability (DFR), and Design for Serviceability (DFS) principles throughout product development.
- Identify and mitigate technical risks associated with mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and integration challenges.
- Rack & Infrastructure Integration
- Support the development of rack-level mechanical architectures including equipment integration, structural design, service access, cable management, airflow management, and cooling distribution.
- Define and optimise mechanical interfaces between compute hardware, power infrastructure, networking equipment, and cooling systems.
- Contribute to platform designs aligned with industry‑standard deployment models and data centre integration requirements.
- Develop solutions that enable efficient deployment, maintenance, upgradeability, and operational reliability.
- Support infrastructure scaling activities through modular and serviceable mechanical design approaches.
- Product Development & Validation
- Support product development activities from concept generation through prototype builds, qualification testing, and production release.
- Develop verification and validation plans for mechanical, structural, thermal, and environmental performance requirements.
- Conduct and interpret mechanical, thermal, airflow, and structural analysis to support design decisions.
- Support prototype assembly, integration, and troubleshooting activities.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and integration issues.
- Support engineering change management and configuration control processes.
- Contribute to EVT, DVT, PVT, manufacturing readiness, and deployment validation activities.
- Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Electronics, Optical, FPGA, Systems, Software, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to achieve system‑level objectives.
- Collaborate with thermal engineers, systems architects, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated hardware solutions.
- Participate in programme planning, technical reviews, and milestone delivery activities.
- Communicate technical concepts, risks, recommendations, and trade‑offs effectively to stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development of system‑level solutions balancing performance, reliability, deployment, and commercial objectives.
- Supplier & Manufacturing Engagement
- Work with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and external engineering organisations throughout product development and production.
- Review supplier designs, manufacturing feedback, tooling approaches, and technical documentation.
- Support component qualification, manufacturing process development, and production readiness activities.
- Lead issue resolution related to manufacturability, supplier quality, and production performance.
- Contribute to cost optimisation and value engineering initiatives through supplier collaboration and design improvements.
- Quality & Compliance
- Ensure designs comply with applicable engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and company processes.
- Generate and maintain engineering documentation including specifications, manufacturing drawings, and GD&T requirements.
- Support qualification testing, reliability assessments, and failure investigations.
- Apply engineering best practices to improve product robustness, quality, and lifecycle performance.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering tools, processes, and methodologies.
Skills & Experience
- Technical Expertise
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Strong experience developing complex electromechanical products from concept through production.
- Demonstrated ownership of mechanical systems, assemblies, chassis, infrastructure, or products throughout the full product lifecycle.
- Experience designing products incorporating dense electronics, optical subsystems, networking equipment, compute hardware, or other high‑performance technology platforms.
- Strong understanding of mechanical design principles including structural design, materials selection, thermal management, tolerancing, and manufacturability.
- Experience developing products requiring high levels of reliability, serviceability, and operational performance.
- Solid understanding of thermal management technologies including forced‑air cooling, liquid cooling, cold plates, thermal interface materials, and airflow optimisation.
- Experience designing systems with demanding thermal and power density requirements.
- Strong understanding of rack‑level integration challenges including cooling distribution, service access, cable management, power integration, and infrastructure deployment.
- Familiarity with industry‑standard rack architectures and data centre infrastructure design considerations.
- Strong understanding of mechanical integration involving electronics, optics, cooling systems, and complex assemblies.
- Engineering Tools & Analysis
- Strong 3D CAD experience using Creo, SolidWorks, NX, or equivalent mechanical design tools.
- Experience producing detailed manufacturing documentation, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
- Strong understanding of GD&T and ASME Y14.5 standards.
- Experience performing tolerance stack‑up analysis and managing manufacturing variation.
- Experience using simulation tools for structural, thermal, vibration, and airflow analysis.
- Familiarity with FEA and CFD methodologies and the interpretation of simulation results.
- Ability to correlate analytical models with physical testing and validation data.
- Product Development & Manufacturing
- Experience supporting prototype development, product integration, qualification testing, and production release activities.
- Familiarity with New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and manufacturing ramp‑up activities.
- Experience working with sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, casting, injection moulding, extrusion, and additive manufacturing processes.
- Understanding of DFM, DFA, DFR, and DFS principles.
- Experience supporting engineering change management and product lifecycle management processes.
- Ability to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and cost when evaluating design solutions.
- Experience working directly with suppliers and contract manufacturers through development, qualification, and production ramp.
- Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering complex hardware products.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Electronics, Optical, FPGA, Systems, Software, Manufacturing, and Quality Engineering teams.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and concisely.
- Experience contributing to design reviews, technical discussions, and cross‑functional problem‑solving activities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast‑paced product development environment.
- Personal Attributes
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Structured and methodical approach to engineering design and decision‑making.
- High level of ownership and accountability for technical deliverables.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
- Curious, adaptable, and motivated to learn new technologies and engineering disciplines.
- Passion for developing innovative compute infrastructure and solving complex engineering challenges.
- Committed to engineering excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering high‑quality solutions.
Compensation & Equity
- Competitive Salary: Commensurate with your experience, skills, and location
- Equity & Ownership: Meaningful stock options. You’re not just joining the mission; you’re owning a piece of it
- Proximity Bonus: We value your time. To minimise your commute and maximise your life, we offer an annual Living‑Local Bonus if your residence is within 20 minutes of the office
- Retirement Benefits: Employer‑contributed retirement plans to help you build long‑term financial security.
Due to U.S. export control regulations, candidates’ eligibility to work at OLIX depends on their most recent citizenship or permanent residency status. We are generally unable to consider applicants whose most recent citizenship or permanent residence is in certain restricted countries (currently including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Russia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Venezuela). Applicants who have subsequently obtained citizenship or permanent residency in another country not subject to these restrictions may still be eligible.
Mechanical Engineer employer: OLIX
At OLIX, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our Mechanical Engineering Manager role not only provides competitive compensation and equity options but also emphasizes professional growth through hands-on leadership and cross-functional teamwork in a cutting-edge technology environment. With a focus on employee well-being, including a Living-Local Bonus for those residing nearby, OLIX is committed to creating a fulfilling and rewarding workplace for all team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical Engineer
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like OLIX.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like OLIX love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of OLIX and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Mechanical Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for OLIX and the Mechanical Engineer role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at OLIX
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at OLIX.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at OLIX.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with OLIX, making you a more appealing candidate.