Principal Mechanical Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer who will demonstrate expertise in the design, analysis and integration planning during the development of precision, opto-mechanical subsystems such as gimbaled telescopes, positioning mechanisms and integrated sensors, deployed in spaceborne, airborne, terrestrial, and seaborne environments. Duties include CAD modeling, structural, thermal and dynamic analyses, performance characterization and requirements tracking, and preparing engineering documentation. You will be expected to coordinate across disciplines to ensure all functional and performance requirements are satisfied. You will also support tooling and work instruction development for the assembly, integration, and test of the deliverable hardware. Additionally, may be asked to support proposal preparation and cost estimating for new projects and will be expected to work with program and functional leadership to direct the design efforts of a mechanical design team.

• Use expert level knowledge to execute on major programs and lead teams; coordinates design engineering activities on assigned projects; works independently to achieve goals and objectives; recognized as a local expert in Mechanical Engineering or Opto-Mechanical Engineering discipline 
• Responsible for product design and process development activities on assigned projects; ensures product designs and processes meet customer specifications and technical requirements
• Maintain or oversees the maintenance of the system level CAD model, responsible for the system layout, component and assembly modeling, as well as detailing.
• Perform analyses necessary to certify functional and performance requirements are satisfied – includes FEA for structural integrity verification, dynamic loads characterization, shock evaluation, and thermal analyses, as well as STOP analyses using Sigfit
• Support program management with technical advice and direction on assigned programs; adheres to program financial goals and provides financial estimates and status updates to program management
• Support advanced technology development by offering insights and informed suggestions for new concepts and research and development activities
• Support Manufacturing/Operations in implementing DFM/DFMA principles to ensure products meet cost and schedule requirements
• Participates in configuration control (CCD), change control (ECO, NOR, RCN), and MRB activities to support assigned programs

Education & Experience

• Minimum nine years of related experience in a professional role with a Bachelor’s degree or related discipline.
• Minimum of seven years of experience with a Master’s degree or four years with a Ph.D. in a relevant field.

Skills

• Requires an understanding of optomechanical and/or precision mechanism design principals; the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to the design process is essential
• Experience with the design of optical systems from concept to production; familiar with the design of optics, optics mounting strategies, GD&T, manufacturability, and cost estimating
• Proficiency using 3D CAD software; SOLIDWORKS experience preferred
• Knowledge of thermal, vibrational, and shock analysis methods with application toward optical systems; Experience with analysis software: Femap/NX Nastran, Simcenter 3D, Mathcad, Matlab, and/or Star CCM+ preferred; Experience with Sigmadyne’s Sigfit is also a plus.
• Experience with precision mechanism design, analysis, assembly and/or testing methods (i.e. motor and bearing sizing, encoder selection, lubrication, flexure design, etc.)
• Experience with design and analysis of subsystems utilizing materials such as ceramics, specialty metals (Invar), carbon fiber composites, and optical coatings
• Knowledge of systems engineering tools and methods: error budgeting, FMEA, TPM tracking, etc.
• Experience integrating, aligning and testing of optical systems is a plus
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to achieve results independently or working on a team; strong organizational skills and attention to details required
• Solid understanding of design for assembly and integration in complex opto-mechanical devices including alignment planning and tolerance stack analysis
• Experience with optical testing or dynamic testing and data reduction considered a plus

Working Conditions

• Job operates in a professional office environment
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines
• Work in a cubicle office

Physical Requirements

• Walk. Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabin