Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Sun King is the world’s leading off-grid solar energy company, focusing on innovative product design and clean cooking solutions. The Product Design Engineer will work on developing next-generation devices and manufacturing systems, contributing to the design process and collaborating with teams to create impactful solutions.
Responsibilities
- Contribute creative problem-solving and design thinking to next-generation FMCD development
- Explore and evaluate a wide range of design concepts in response to technical requirements, user needs, and manufacturing constraints
- Contribute to the synthesis of field research, customer insights, and technical inputs into design directions and early-stage concepts
- Produce clear CAD models and design documentation (Onshape preferred) to communicate and develop ideas across the team
- Use AI-assisted tools selectively as a specialized accelerator for concept development, simulation interpretation, and design documentation
- Participate in design reviews, contributing thoughtful perspectives and creative alternatives
- Research and explore flow sensing and MEMS sensor technologies
- Conduct exploratory research into flow sensing approaches for LPG metering — including thermal mass flow, ultrasonic, and MEMS-based sensors
- Build working knowledge through hands-on experimentation: bench testing, teardowns, and fundamental investigation
- Synthesize findings clearly to help the team evaluate technology options and make informed design choices
- Investigate new applications of Sun King's developed proprietary flow sensing technology in adjacent industries and markets beyond LPG cooking
- Work closely with electronics and firmware teammates to gain insight into system-level integration requirements
- Build rapid, hands-on hardware prototypes
- Build physical prototypes quickly and resourcefully using whatever fabrication methods best fit the problem: FDM/SLA 3D printing, laser cutting, manual and CNC machining, casting, hand fabrication, and more
- Test prototypes rigorously, think critically about results, and iterate quickly
- Use simulation tools where appropriate to inform or validate design choices (FEA, CFD, or equivalent) — curiosity and willingness to learn are valued as much as prior experience
- Keep clear, useful records of experiments and iterations to build collective team knowledge
- Help grow and maintain the team's prototyping lab tools and capabilities
- Travel to field markets in Africa to inform product development
- Visit customers and stakeholders in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and other African markets to conduct interviews, observe usage patterns, and gather direct product feedback
- Translate field insights into new product concepts and application-specific designs — including burners optimized for low flow rates and high thermal efficiency
- Develop first-hand knowledge of end-user needs, cooking behaviors, and market constraints that feed directly back into the design process
- Travel to manufacturer sites in India and China to contribute to production development
- Work alongside manufacturing partners to contribute to the development of next-generation production systems designed for modularity and scalability
- Contribute to the team's goal of reaching production volumes in excess of 40,000 units per month, contributing design and process ideas that enable reliable, high-volume production
- Build relationships with suppliers and production engineers to deepen knowledge of manufacturing constraints and capabilities
- Contribute to product quality and continuous improvement
- Apply fresh perspectives and critical thinking to investigate field failures and contribute ideas for design or process improvements
- Work with manufacturers and vendors to gain insight into production constraints and explore practical design solutions
- Contribute to the broader team's efforts to identify quality risks and develop practical mitigations
Skills
- A bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Design, Mechatronics, or equivalent practical experience
- 2 or more years of experience in hardware or product design — professional roles, personal projects, research, or design projects all considered
- A genuine maker's instinct: you build things to learn, prototype to think, and iterate continuously
- Comfortable with CAD as a thinking and communication tool, not just a documentation step; Onshape strongly preferred; SolidWorks or Fusion 360 also considered
- Curiosity and willingness to learn are valued as much as prior experience
- Able to travel internationally at short notice
- Comfortable working across cultures and time zones, with a team-oriented and respectful approach
- Experience or strong interest in flow sensing technologies — thermal mass flow, ultrasonic, MEMS pressure and flow sensors — at any level of depth
- Simulation tools for design validation — FEA, CFD, or flow simulation — a bonus, not a requirement
- IoT hardware and embedded systems — curiosity about how devices work end-to-end
- AI tools used as a specialized instrument for design research, concept development, and documentation
- Scripting or light coding (Python or similar) for data wrangling or test automation — a plus
Benefits
- Professional growth in a dynamic, rapidly expanding, high-social-impact industry
- An open-minded, collaborative culture with enthusiastic colleagues driven by the challenge of innovation and making a profound impact on people and the planet.
- A truly multicultural experience: you will have the chance to work with and learn from people from different geographies, nationalities, and backgrounds.
- Structured, tailored learning and development programs that help you become a better leader, manager, and professional through the Sun King Center for Leadership.
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