Product Design Engineer

Who we are

Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud, which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. At Samsara, we are helping improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the physical operations that power our global economy. Representing more than 40% of global GDP, these industries are the infrastructure of our planet, including agriculture, construction, field services, transportation, and manufacturing — and we are excited to help digitally transform their operations at scale.

Working at Samsara means you’ll help define the future of physical operations and be on a team that’s shaping an exciting array of product solutions, including Video-Based Safety, Vehicle Telematics, Apps and Driver Workflows, and Equipment Monitoring. As part of a recently public company, you’ll have the autonomy and support to make an impact as we build for the long term.

About the role:

We’re looking for a Staff Product Design Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for driving the industrial design, architecture, and engineering of one or more Samsara products from initial concept through to mass production. You will motivate your product design process using both data-driven insights gleaned from our telemetry data cloud, and deep hands-on understanding of our customers earned crawling around their sites and equipment alongside them.   

In bringing products to market, you will work collaboratively with Product Management, EE, FW, EPM, and Hardware leadership to make tradeoffs and decisions that balance functionality, cost, installation, usability, and aesthetics. Samsara’s Hardware Product Design teams collaborate closely with Samsara’s Operations and Supply Chain teams, outside laboratories, JDM design resources, and a growing supply base worldwide. Together, you will bring exceptional products to market on time and within budget, and ensure that Samsara leads the industry in our product design.

This role is open to candidates residing in the US. This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days per week in our San Francisco office and 2 days working remotely.

You should apply if:

• You want to impact the industries that run our world: Your efforts will result in real-world impact—helping to keep the lights on, get food into grocery stores, reduce emissions, and most importantly, ensure workers return home safely.
• You are the architect of your own career: If you put in the work, this role won’t be your last at Samsara. We set up our employees for success and have built a culture that encourages rapid career development, and countless opportunities to experiment and master your craft in a hyper-growth environment.
• You’re energized by our opportunity: The vision we have to digitize large sectors of the global economy requires your full focus and best efforts to bring forth creative, ambitious ideas for our customers.
• You want to be with the best: At Samsara, we win together, celebrate together and support each other. You will be surrounded by a high-caliber team that will encourage you to do your best. 

In this role, you will: 

• Define and drive the multi-year technical vision and cross-functional hardware strategy that scales the Samsara Platform and solves the industry’s most complex physical-to-digital challenges.
• Establish architectures and design solutions that set the bar and addresses the toughest challenges of Samsara Hardware in rugged environments for the Samsara Product Design team 
• Drives system features trade-offs and defines product specifications with product management, engineering teams, and executive leadership mapping technical decision making to business priorities.
• Design, build, and ship impactful products that address customer needs and expand the scope and capability of the Samsara Platform
• Drive the development process through all phases including engineering feasibility, proof of concept prototyping, detailed design, validation, mass production, and go-to-market
• Validate products against both internal and external metrics through engineering evaluation, rigorous product quality testing, customer field testing, and return analysis
• Own the full customer hardware experience including the industrial design, packaging, and installation of our products
• Leverage our JDM manufacturing partners to achieve performance, cost, and schedule goals
• Champion, role model, and embed Samsara’s cultural principles (Focus on Customer Success, Build for the Long Term, Adopt a Growth Mindset, Be Inclusive, Win as a Team) as we scale globally and across new offices

Minimum requirements for the role:

• 12+ years of experience shipping hardware programs at scale in partnership with partners overseas
• Proven record navigating tradeoffs between design, manufacturability, schedule, and cost in a cross-functional environment
• Experience developing and launching electromechanical components or products in mass production 
• Demonstrated experience designing for automotive, outdoor, industrial, or consumer products
• Proficiency in plastic/metal part design, CAD modeling, and drafting, preferably using NX
• BS degree in mechanical engineering or related field
• Ability to travel up to 10% (domestic and international) when necessary
• Hybrid (Tuesday-Thursday) presence onsite in our San Francisco Headquarters

An ideal candidate also has:

• 15+ years of experience shipping high-volume hardware programs at scale
• MS degree in mechanical engineering or related field
• Experience shipping products with JDM partner teams in a leveraged development model
• Experience with ruggedized product design, including IP sealing, vibration, and harsh environments
• Experience integrating camera and antenna technologies in smart product, vehicle, or equipment applications
• Significant hands-on experience working with customer feedback to make better product decisions

The compensation range shown spans approved pay zones for this role. Your primary work location determines the range applicable to you, which may be narrower than the full range displayed.

The range of annual base salary for full-time employees for this position is below. Please note that base pay offered may vary depending on factors including your city of residence, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is also eligible for an initial RSU grant with no vesting cliff, and ongoing refresh opportunities tied to performance, subject to plan terms and conditions. Learn more about our total rewards and benefits below.

Annual Base Salary$220,000—$275,000 USD

Total Rewards

At Samsara, we build for the people who keep the global economy moving. We want owners, not passengers, which is why our rewards are designed to fuel high-impact builders. Our compensation program delivers above-market total compensation through a combination of base salary, performance-based bonus/variable pay, and equity (for eligible roles) in a high-growth public company. We meaningfully differentiate pay for our top performers, who have the opportunity to earn above-market compensation that can outpace the broader market over time.

Beyond compensation, we provide the foundations that enable long-term success: a flexible, employee-led remote model, a professional development stipend, comprehensive health and parental leave plans, and more. If you’re ready to build for the long term and own the outcome, your journey starts here.

Flexible Working 

At Samsara, we embrace a flexible working model that caters to the diverse needs of our teams. Our offices are open for those who prefer to work in-person and we also support remote work where it aligns with our operational requirements. For certain positions, being close to one of our offices or within a specific geographic area is important to facilitate collaboration, access to resources, or alignment with our service regions. In these cases, the job description will clearly indicate any working location requirements. Our goal is to ensure that all members of our team can contribute effectively, whether they are working on-site, in a hybrid model, or fully remotely. All offers of employment are contingent upon an individual’s ability to secure and maintain the legal right to work at the company and in the specified work location, if applicable.

Belonging at Samsara

At Samsara, we welcome everyone regardless of their background. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, and other characteristics protected by law. We depend on the unique approaches of our team members to help us solve complex problems and want to ensure that Samsara is a place where people from all backgrounds can make an impact.

Accommodations 

Samsara is an inclusive work environment, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunity in employment for qualified persons with disabilities. Please email accessibleinterviewing@samsara.com or click here if you require any reasonable accommodations throughout the recruiting process.

Our Commitment to Authenticity

We use Tofu, a fraud detection tool, to validate the authenticity of applications and protect against identity fraud. This ensures we are connecting with real people and allows us to prioritize genuine candidates. Please see Samsara’s Candidate Privacy Notice for more information.

Fraudulent Employment Offers

Samsara is aware of scams involving fake job interviews and offers. Please know we do not charge fees to applicants at any stage of the hiring process. Official communication about your application will only come from emails ending in @samsara.com, @us-greenhouse-mail.io or @mail3.guide.co. For more information regarding fraudulent employment offers, please visit our blog post here.