Mechanical Design Engineer - PCB Design

Itron, Inc. • West Union, SC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Itron is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water. We create a more resourceful world to protect essential resources for today and tomorrow. Join us. The Mechanical Design Engineer will join Itron’s Devices Business Unit within our global product development organization. This team designs and develops hardware for Itron’s metering and smart energy solutions, collaborating across mechanical, electrical, firmware, validation, and manufacturing functions. In this role, you will contribute to full lifecycle product development—from concept and prototyping through validation, regulatory certification, and transition to manufacturing. This position is a great fit for an engineer who enjoys hands-on development, practical problem solving, and building advanced devices that help utilities operate more efficiently and sustainably. You will work in a customer-centric, collaborative environment where we value authentic communication, accountability, agility, and innovative thinking to support the evolving needs of the Utilities & Energy sector.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• 0–5 years of mechanical engineering experience (R&D, product development, or relevant co-op/internship experience are welcome and valued).
• Foundational knowledge of mechanical design principles, including plastic and metal part design, tolerance analysis, and basic mechanical systems.
• Experience using 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, or similar platforms.
• Ability to create clear drawings, apply GD&T, and produce thorough engineering documentation.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills, with a data-informed and accountable approach to decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams, showing respect for diverse perspectives and communication styles.
• Customer-centric mindset, with an interest in how device design impacts the performance, safety, and reliability of utility and energy systems.
• Willingness to be hands-on in the lab, prototype shop, or on the manufacturing floor as part of an agile and authentic engineering culture.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing electro-mechanical products, metering devices, or smart grid hardware.
• Familiarity with product development for high-volume manufacturing, including engagement with contract manufacturers and suppliers.
• Exposure to environmental and regulatory testing for electronic devices and an understanding of how these requirements influence mechanical design.
• Understanding of PCB integration, thermal management, sealing approaches and housing/enclosure development.
• Experience with statistical tools and quality methodologies to support robust, customer-focused designs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks or projects in a dynamic environment, adapting priorities with agility while maintaining quality and safety.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly document test plans, results, and design decisions for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset, with an interest in innovating within the Utilities & Energy technology space.

Responsibilities

• Product Design & Development Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for electric metering products, including plastics, metals, seals, and electromechanical interfaces, with a strong focus on customer and end‑user needs.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, GD&T specifications, and engineering documentation that support the full R&D lifecycle in an organized and accountable manner.
• Conduct mechanical analyses—such as tolerance stack-ups, FEA, material evaluations, and reliability predictions—to ensure robust, safe, and cost-effective designs.
• Apply innovative design approaches to continuously improve product performance, manufacturability, and environmental impact.
• Prototyping & Validation Build, procure, or support the fabrication of prototype parts, coordinate prototype development for durability, environmental performance, manufacturability, and regulatory requirements.
• Plan and participate in design reviews, integrating authentic, constructive feedback from electrical, firmware, test engineering, and manufacturing engineering partners.
• Conduct hands-on mechanical testing (e.g., thermal, vibration, shock, ingress protection, accelerated aging) and clearly document results, lessons learned, and recommended actions.
• Use an agile mindset to iterate on designs quickly based on test outcomes and stakeholder input.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with contract manufacturers, suppliers, and internal manufacturing teams to refine designs for manufacturability, cost, quality, and supply continuity.
• Partner with PCB designers, electrical engineers, and firmware engineers to develop integrated devices that meet system-level requirements and deliver reliable outcomes for utility customers.
• Align work with project schedules, key deliverables, and product development processes, maintaining transparency and accountability for commitments.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with global, multi-disciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Sustaining Engineering & Continuous Improvement Support existing metering and smart energy products through component updates, cost reduction initiatives, quality improvements, and root-cause analysis of field or manufacturing issues.
• Lead or contribute to investigations of mechanical issues using structured problem-solving tools and data-driven decision making.
• Drive enhancements in mechanical design processes, tooling, documentation, and validation strategies to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovative thinking to advance Itron’s mission of improving the efficiency and environmental impact of utility operations

Benefits

• This position also includes a competitive benefit package including; financial, social, health and wellbeing programs, paid vacation, 401k matching, employee stock purchase program, hybrid work schedule, and more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level