Hardware Product Design Co-op January- June 2025

3 months ago
Internship
In-person · San Francisco, CA, US... more

Our Mission  

SPAN is enabling electrification for all

SPAN is mission-driven to design, build, and deploy products that electrify our built environment, decarbonize our world, and slow the effects of climate change.

  • Decarbonization is the process to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, from entering our atmosphere.

  • Electrification is the process of replacing fossil fuel appliances that run on gas or oil with all-electric upgrades for a cleaner way to power our lives.

At SPAN, we believe in:

  • Enabling homes and vehicles powered by clean energy

  • Making electrification upgrades possible

  • Building more resilient homes with reliable backup

  • Designing a flexible and distributed electrical grid

The Role

To modernize the grid, we must rethink the electrical infrastructure within every building. SPAN is a pioneer in this field, driving the industry towards a fully electrified era. In this role you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and prototyping early-stage concepts for groundbreaking grid technologies. You will work closely with our customers and the Product team to understand customer needs and translate them into tangible product designs.

Required Qualifications:

We are looking for a mechanically minded engineer (ME, EE, Civil) with a knack for entrepreneurship and a desire to build great things to solve large problems.

  • Strong mechanical design experience using 3D CAD software (Solidworks preferred)

  • Proficiency in various manufacturing methods, including sheet metal, plastics (injection molding), and 3D printing

  • Experience with rapid prototyping several concepts from ideation to first prototypes, using a variety of methods (3d printing, laser cutting, machining, and outsourcing parts as needed)

  • Ability to provide mechanical engineering support for both new product development and existing product manufacturing

Key Responsibilities:

  • Product Design: Leverage your mechanical design skills to create innovative and functional product concepts.

  • Prototyping: Utilize rapid prototyping techniques to bring your designs to life and test their feasibility.

  • Customer Research: Gain a deep understanding of customer needs and preferences to inform product development and iteration.

  • Ideation: Contribute to brainstorming sessions and generate innovative product concepts.

  • Problem-Solving: Identify and resolve technical challenges that arise during the product development process.

Bonus Qualifications:

  • Experience with electrical engineering concepts and components

  • Familiarity with industry standards and regulations (UL, NEC, etc.)

  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills

  • Excellent communication and teamwork abilities

  • Drawing software expertise like Illustrator, Figma, etc.

  • Basic code language knowledge like python

 

The co-op position has a duration of 6 months and will run from January- June 2025. Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited college or university, and have not graduated prior to end of the co-op term.

The hourly rate for this role is $32/hr for undergrad students and $35/hr for Masters or PhD students.

 

Life at SPAN

SPAN embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. 

Headquartered in San Francisco’s vibrant SoMa neighborhood, we are an eclectic group of creative thinkers who value open communication, teamwork, and a ‘make it happen' approach to addressing complex challenges. 

We’re hiring talented individuals who are driven by success and are passionate about shaping the future of renewable energy. If that sounds like you, we’d love for you to consider joining the rapidly growing team at SPAN.

The Perks:

⚡ Great opportunity to begin your career at a mission driven climate focused company

⚡ Competitive compensation at a well-funded, venture-backed company

⚡ Comfortable, sunny office space located near BART and Caltrain public transit

⚡ Strong focus on team-building and company culture (events, meet-ups, clubs)

Interested in joining our team? Submit an application today and we’ll be in touch with next steps!