Mechanical Design Engineer (Senior Technologist)

Western Digital•Colorado Springs, CO

14d

About The Position

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Western Digital is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (Senior Technologist) responsible for design and analysis of high-performance storage systems and subsystems for the OEM and data center marketplace with specific focus on product design for the housing of hard disk drives (HDDs). The successful candidate will work to develop products that are robust in their ability to withstand shock, vibration, thermal, acoustic, and other environmental challenges when deployed to a field environment yet world class in their design principles. Apply design and working knowledge of HDDs to impact the design of other portions of an enclosure housing HDDs and other system level components such as printed circuit boards, sheet metal and plastic components, system fans. The ability to work alongside HDD development engineering staff as well as enclosure development team members is critical in the role of this position as well as the ability to collect population level data for an enclosure housing many HDDs and then boil down HDD interaction with other portions of the system using statistical analysis and HDD functional knowledge. Shock, vibration, and acoustic experience will be utilized in this position to influence design optimization of an enclosure with intellectual property developed as part of the enclosure design. Intimate knowledge of SolidWorks and ANSYS and its application to part design and study as well as tool and fixture design will entail a portion of the job. Data acquisition and analysis from a variety of sensors using unique Matlab scripting is also a portion of the job. The Mechanical Design Engineer (Senior Technologist) will be the lead HDD subject matter expert and resource to the enclosure development team for the mechanical design and development of datacenter storage systems and subsystems consisting of sheet metal parts, plastic injection molded parts, assemblies, HDDs, solid state drives, fans, power supplies, electronic printed circuit boards (PCB’s) with high-speed communication interfaces and rack-based hardware. Due to the complex interrelationships of these systems, the candidate will need to hold vast demonstrable mechanical engineering expertise in how to provide as quiescent an environment for an HDD to function within. The ideal candidate will have the ability to readily conduct HDD level and system level analysis of how an array of HDDs are functioning relative to other HDDs in the system and HDD interaction with both vibration and acoustic noise due to fans and other sources. The engineer will interact with the HDD servo development team, enclosure development, and program management team members as well as hyper-scale customers of WD and may direct/lead the work of others. In addition to a broad background across many facets of mechanical engineering, the candidate must possess strong analytical skills and be a creative “out of the box” thinker who is self-motivated and a capable multi-tasker. In this role, the engineer will be expected to develop and execute unique test software for HDD parametric and performance measurement while within or outside of a chassis. The engineer will also be expected to have the ability to reduce a large amount of data in areas such as HDD head positioning data, HDD in-chassis dynamics, component test data, and other data used to assess how an HDD or an array of HDDs is performing relative to expected data throughput. Additionally, you will lead/participate in design reviews, be accountable for meeting test and analysis schedule commitments and deliverables, issue resolution and work with domestic and international suppliers and manufacturing locations to ensure successful enclosure operation at the system level and the individual HDD level. Acting at a Senior Technologist level, the candidate will conduct feasibility studies on components or assemblies to assess function compared to design goals. Additionally, the engineer will be responsible for the development and execution of validation plans culminating in reports demonstrating the successful function of both system level and HDD level operations. Each project team consists of cross-functional engineers with electrical, mechanical, firmware and manufacturing backgrounds at a minimum. In this position, you will mentor and build the skills of less experienced engineers. The candidate will design and analyze mechanical systems in both the theoretical and empirical realm, influence enclosure part and system level design and use SolidWorks and/or ANSYS to generate 3D models and 2D prints for the primary need of evaluating cutting edge designs such as WD’s patented IsoVibe designs or similar. Directs support personnel in the preparation of detailed design, design testing, prototype testing, and data acquisition/analysis. Apply present knowledge or learn and utilize tools such as Matlab, statistical analysis software, and Microsoft Office products. This is a Senior Technologist level position for the right individual with superior creative design and technical skills, good project deliverable abilities, and an enthusiasm for success as well as extensive experience in use of acquisition and analysis of the data collected as the prime design tools at your disposal.

Requirements

BSME or MSME degree with minimum of 10+ years product development experience in computing, data storage or related fields; especially in the realm of HDD manufacturing and/or design.
The ability to learn new concepts quickly and apply to new situations
Demonstrated ability in creative problem solving and innovation.
Extensive working knowledge of CAD systems (SolidWorks preferred) required.
Extensive experience in design and modeling of vibration, shock, and acoustic attenuation components with intentional design features and tolerance considerations.
Shall be familiar with test instrumentation such as accelerometers, force gauges, air flow, and thermal test equipment.
Highly proficient in writing and executing test plans and writing test reports thereby validating the design of parts, assemblies, and systems to positively impact HDD function in an enclosure.
Experience in successful participation (engineering portion) of development projects from design to production.
Excellent project multi-tasking and communication skills are required for the self-motivated employee.
Solid understanding of manufacturing technologies and methodologies including actual manufacturing experience is a plus.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally (<10% total work time on average).
Extensive knowledge and use of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point, MSTeams, OneNote) and Adobe products.
Experience with developing scripting and GUI code using Matla
The ability to distill large amounts of experimental data to a meaningful conclusion and write a brief report for internal or external use
Working knowledge of the following: Hand tools (pliers, clamps, jigs). Vises and holding fixtures. Drill, files, burr removal. Lifting and positioning equipment safely.
-Ability to lift 50lbs on an as needed basis.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and/or structural finite element analysis (FEA) is desirable; experience with multiple analysis programs is a plus.
Prior experience with ANSYS non-linear analysis using viscoelastic materials is desirable.
Solid understanding of manufacturing technologies and methodologies including actual manufacturing experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design and analysis of high-performance storage systems and subsystems for the OEM and data center marketplace with specific focus on product design for the housing of hard disk drives (HDDs).
Develop products that are robust in their ability to withstand shock, vibration, thermal, acoustic, and other environmental challenges when deployed to a field environment yet world class in their design principles.
Apply design and working knowledge of HDDs to impact the design of other portions of an enclosure housing HDDs and other system level components such as printed circuit boards, sheet metal and plastic components, system fans.
Collect population level data for an enclosure housing many HDDs and then boil down HDD interaction with other portions of the system using statistical analysis and HDD functional knowledge.
Influence design optimization of an enclosure with intellectual property developed as part of the enclosure design.
Data acquisition and analysis from a variety of sensors using unique Matlab scripting.
Lead HDD subject matter expert and resource to the enclosure development team for the mechanical design and development of datacenter storage systems and subsystems consisting of sheet metal parts, plastic injection molded parts, assemblies, HDDs, solid state drives, fans, power supplies, electronic printed circuit boards (PCB’s) with high-speed communication interfaces and rack-based hardware.
Conduct HDD level and system level analysis of how an array of HDDs are functioning relative to other HDDs in the system and HDD interaction with both vibration and acoustic noise due to fans and other sources.
Develop and execute unique test software for HDD parametric and performance measurement while within or outside of a chassis.
Reduce a large amount of data in areas such as HDD head positioning data, HDD in-chassis dynamics, component test data, and other data used to assess how an HDD or an array of HDDs is performing relative to expected data throughput.
Lead/participate in design reviews
Be accountable for meeting test and analysis schedule commitments and deliverables
Issue resolution and work with domestic and international suppliers and manufacturing locations to ensure successful enclosure operation at the system level and the individual HDD level.
Conduct feasibility studies on components or assemblies to assess function compared to design goals.
Responsible for the development and execution of validation plans culminating in reports demonstrating the successful function of both system level and HDD level operations.
Mentor and build the skills of less experienced engineers.
Design and analyze mechanical systems in both the theoretical and empirical realm, influence enclosure part and system level design and use SolidWorks and/or ANSYS to generate 3D models and 2D prints for the primary need of evaluating cutting edge designs such as WD’s patented IsoVibe designs or similar.
Directs support personnel in the preparation of detailed design, design testing, prototype testing, and data acquisition/analysis.
Apply present knowledge or learn and utilize tools such as Matlab, statistical analysis software, and Microsoft Office products.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision insurance
life, accident and disability insurance
tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts
employee assistance program
other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity
tuition reimbursement
transit
the Applause Program
employee stock purchase plan
the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan
paid vacation time
paid sick leave