--- title: 'Staff Chassis Systems Design Engineer at Lightship' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-chassis-systems-design-engineer-lightship-broomfield-yqa1z0y9za95' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Staff Chassis Systems Design Engineer at Lightship - **Company:** Lightship - **Location:** Broomfield, CO - **Compensation:** $130k–$150k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-24 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/lightship/540269d1-19a7-4dd5-91b8-b95dfb78c737 ## Job description ## Overview Lightship is the first American all-electric recreational vehicle manufacturer currently developing an aerodynamic, battery-powered trailer for the electric age. As the macro transition to an all-electric transportation ecosystem accelerates, Lightship is bringing the increased convenience and superior performance that electrification offers to a pastime enjoyed by over 11 million American families. Honoring Diverse Perspectives Lightship is committed to hiring and developing top talent from diverse backgrounds. We believe representing and supporting diverse groups is key to the success of our team members, customers, shareholders and the achievement of our mission and vision. We operate in a collaborative environment with a flat organizational structure and expect a high degree of integrity, autonomy and creativity from all members of the team. ## About the Role As a Staff Chassis Systems Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, development, integration, and validation of vehicle chassis structures and related mechanical systems. This position will own components and assemblies from requirements definition and concept development through detailed design, prototype build, validation, and production release. The ideal candidate has strong mechanical design fundamentals, CAD ability, understands structural load paths and vehicle-level interfaces, and can develop manufacturable designs using sound engineering judgment, analysis, and testing. ## Responsibilities - Design and develop vehicle chassis systems and components, including suspension, braking, drive unit integration, wheels and tires, structural members, brackets, mounts, crossmembers, and subframes from concept through production. - Support definition and translate vehicle- and system-level requirements into detailed designs that meet strength, stiffness, durability, mass, packaging, serviceability, cost, and manufacturability targets. - Define subsystem load cases and structural load paths, and perform engineering calculations including static loading, stress, deflection, bolted-joint analysis, fatigue, and appropriate factors of safety. - Develop component and assembly interfaces, mounting strategies, datum structures, tolerances, clearances, and packaging requirements; apply GD&T and tolerance analysis in accordance with ASME Y14.5. - Create, release, and maintain production-quality 3D CAD, engineering drawings, specifications, and other design documentation throughout the product development lifecycle. - Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes based on design requirements, production volumes, cost, and performance, including welded/fabricated structures, sheet metal, machining, castings, forgings, and extrusions. - Lead or support engineering analysis and risk-assessment activities including design reviews, CAE, DFMEA, PFMEA, tolerance analysis, trade studies, and functional analysis. - Develop and execute component and subsystem Design Verification and Production Validation plans, evaluate test results and failures, and implement design improvements and corrective actions. - Support prototype and production vehicle builds, troubleshooting fit, function, packaging, manufacturing, and assembly issues through root-cause resolution. - Support supplier selection and serve as the primary engineering interface with chassis component suppliers throughout RFQ, DFM, prototyping, validation, tooling, and production readiness. - Collaborate with suspension, braking, powertrain, body, electrical, CAE, manufacturing, quality, and supplier engineering teams to ensure successful vehicle-level integration. ## Minimum Qualifications - B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline; M.S. preferred. - 8+ years of relevant mechanical or structural design experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, off-highway, motorsports, aerospace, or a similar industry. - Demonstrated experience developing mechanical systems or components from concept through prototype, validation, and production release. - Understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals, including vehicle loads, structural load paths, stress, stiffness, fatigue, bolted joints, and suspension and braking principles. - Proficiency with 3D CAD and engineering drawing creation; CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE experience preferred. - Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and design for manufacturing and assembly. - Experience with common chassis manufacturing processes, including welded steel or aluminum structures, sheet metal, machining, castings, forgings, or similar processes. - Experience working directly with suppliers, manufacturing teams, and cross-functional engineering organizations to resolve design and production issues. - Collaborative and detail-oriented, with strong written and verbal communication skills and a commitment to engineering quality and thoroughness. ## Preferred Qualifications - 5+ years of direct experience designing and integrating vehicle chassis, suspension, steering, braking, axle, wheel-end, frame, or subframe systems. - Experience developing vehicles or mechanical systems in low- to medium-volume production environments. - Experience with structural FEA, fatigue analysis, modal analysis, and vehicle durability analysis. - Experience developing and executing DVP&R or equivalent design verification and validation plans. - Experience applying AIAG/VDA DFMEA methodologies. - Hands-on experience with vehicle assembly, fabrication, machining, welding, instrumentation, or mechanical testing. Equity - Lightship compensation consists of the yearly salary above plus equity, which gives you a stake in the company. ## About Lightship ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Lightship is America’s first all-electric recreational vehicle company, building the AE.1 travel trailer to enable zero-emission road trips. - **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed; Series B stage) - **Headquarters**: Broomfield, Colorado, United States (with offices in South San Francisco and San Francisco) - **Founded**: 2020 - **Founders**: Toby Kraus (CEO) and Ben Parker (Chief Product Officer) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Motor vehicle manufacturing (electric recreational vehicles) - **Target customers**: B2C – RV owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and EV truck owners looking for a sustainable travel trailer - **Mission or purpose**: “Sustainability and joyful outdoor travel experiences can go hand in hand. We’ve built the all-electric AE.1 to enable zero-emission road trips so that you can explore nature while preserving it for generations to come.” [lightshiprv.com/company](https://lightshiprv.com/company) ## Products & Services - **[AE.1 All-Electric Travel Trailer]**: A fully electric, aerodynamic travel trailer designed to retain most of a towing EV’s range or boost gas mileage. Type: Hardware (vehicle). [lightshiprv.com/careers](https://lightshiprv.com/careers) - **[PowerSled]**: An electric mobile power product (introduced May 2026) for off-grid and outdoor use. Type: Hardware. [lightshiprv.com/careers](https://lightshiprv.com/careers) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Annual revenue ~$2.4M (estimated); total funding $87.8M across five rounds (latest Series B closed December 2025 at $26.6M). [linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Prelude Ventures (led Series A and Series B), Obvious Ventures (led Seed and Series B) - **Growth Signals**: - Expanding Colorado factory from 32,000 to 76,000 sq. ft., aiming to quadruple AE.1 production by end of 2026. [linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv) - Headcount grew 23.8% YoY (now 88 employees). [linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv) - More than 85% of supply chain is US-based. [lightshiprv.com/company](https://lightshiprv.com/company) - Employer rating 4.6/5.0 on Built In (5 reviews). [builtin.com/company/lightship-lightshiprvcom](https://builtin.com/company/lightship-lightshiprvcom) ## Competitive Advantages - **First-mover in all-electric RV segment**: Only mass-produced all-electric travel trailer on the market. - **Aerodynamic design** that preserves EV towing range, solving a key pain point for EV owners. - **Deep EV talent pool**: Team includes alumni from Tesla, Rivian, Proterra, Zoox, and AeroVironment. [lightshiprv.com/company](https://lightshiprv.com/company) - **US-centric supply chain** (85%+ domestic) reduces logistics risk and appeals to buyers seeking American-made products. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale manufacturing**: Expanding factory capacity to 4x current output by end of 2026. - **Product line expansion**: Introducing PowerSled and potentially more RV models. - **Sustainability mission**: Cementing position as the go-to electric RV brand for eco-conscious travelers. ## Why Work Here - **Culture highlights**: Values include “balance at work, home, and in the great beyond,” honoring diverse perspectives, autonomy with collaboration, and building to last. [lightshiprv.com/company](https://lightshiprv.com/company) - **Work environment**: Highly collaborative, with a high dose of integrity, autonomy, and creativity. [lightshiprv.com/company](https://lightshiprv.com/company) - **Remote/hybrid/office policy**: Roles are listed as on-site (Broomfield, CO or South San Francisco, CA). Hybrid/remote not explicitly mentioned; likely office-first for hardware roles. - **Notable perks**: DEI focus, supportive of outdoor lifestyle, working on climate-positive products. Compensation rated 3.6/5 on Built In, career advancement 3.6/5; work-life balance scores 5.0/5. [builtin.com/company/lightship-lightshiprvcom](https://builtin.com/company/lightship-lightshiprvcom) ## Sources 1. [Lightship Careers Page](https://lightshiprv.com/careers) 2. [Lightship Company Page](https://lightshiprv.com/company) 3. [Lightship on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightshiprv) 4. [Lightship on Built In](https://builtin.com/company/lightship-lightshiprvcom) 5. 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