Mechanical Engineer III – Technical Sourcing, DFX & NPI

Thermo Fisher Scientific•Hillsboro, OR

23h•Onsite

About The Position

Join our engineering team, where you'll help drive innovation in the development of sophisticated scientific instruments and laboratory equipment. As a Mechanical Engineer III, you'll collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to design and deliver innovative solutions that enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. You'll work on complex mechanical systems from concept through production, applying your expertise in precision engineering, thermal analysis, and mechanical design to create robust, manufacturable products. This role offers excellent opportunities for professional growth while contributing to meaningful technological advances in fields like healthcare, environmental protection, and scientific research. Mechanical Engineer III is a key technical leader supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) through strong Design for Excellence (DFX) execution and technical sourcing partnership. This role ensures mechanical designs are manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with Thermo Fisher’s business commitments, quality standards, and PPI culture. This position operates at the intersection of R&D, Procurement, Operations, Quality, and external suppliers, providing technical depth, structured problem solving, and disciplined execution across the product lifecycle.

Requirements

5+ years of experience with BS in Mechanical Engineering, or 3+ years with MS, in Mechanical Engineering roles supporting NPI and manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of mechanical design including materials selection, precision mechanisms, system integration
Strong knowledge & demonstrated proficiency of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and DFX principles in a product development environment.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including machining, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication
Experience working directly with external suppliers and contract manufacturers.
Experience supporting BOM, cost, and COGS development.
Expertise in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, Pro/e, Creo, or similar) and PDM/PLM systems
Experience dealing with mechanical devices that are regulated by third party agencies such as FDA, NSF, CSA, UL, ISO 13485 standard and others in the medical products industry
Understanding of phase gate development processes and methodologies across multiple disciplines and subject matters is preferred
Experience with documentation, change control processes, and quality systems (ISO, FDA, etc.)
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and engineering analysis tools
Strong project management skills and ability to lead technical initiatives
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Strong analytical abilities and critical thinking
Proactive personality and great problem-solving skills
Ability to prioritize and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively
Experience working in cross-functional, global teams
Ability to travel up to 10-20% as required

Nice To Haves

Experience in regulated or quality-critical environments (life sciences, medical devices, analytical instruments).
Experience with validation testing and verification procedures
Demonstrated experience with FEA, thermal analysis, and engineering calculations
Experience working within global supply chains.
Familiarity with cost modeling, should-cost analysis, or digital manufacturing tools.
Experience applying PPI or continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Act as the technical interface between R&D and Procurement for mechanical components and assemblies on assigned mission critical programs.
Support supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding by assessing manufacturing capability, scalability, and risk.
Conduct technical supplier reviews including DFM/DFA, process capability, yield, and cost drivers.
Enable early supplier involvement (ESI) to influence design, manufacturing strategy, and cost outcomes.
Support Operations and Procurement on make vs. buy decisions using technical, cost, and operational criteria.
Lead and apply DFX principles across mechanical designs, including: Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Design for Assembly (DFA) Design for Cost (DFC) Design for Quality, Reliability, and Serviceability
Facilitate structured DFX reviews and workshops with internal teams and suppliers.
Identify and drive value engineering and cost reduction opportunities while protecting performance and quality by way of DFX proposals to meet target costs.
Ensure design decisions reflect manufacturing realities and supplier process capabilities.
Prepare DFX proposals across all NPI phases following the product development process.
Participate in prototype builds, teardowns, design verification, validation, and production ramp to ensure KPIs and objectives met.
Drive progressive cost maturity, from early estimates to production-released BOM and COGS.
Identify technical, manufacturing, and supply risks early and lead mitigation actions.
Support smooth transfer from development to manufacturing, including supplier readiness and process validation.
Partner with Procurement and Finance to support COGS transparency and margin commitments.
Support VAVE (Value Analysis / Value Engineering) and continuous improvement initiatives.
Apply manufacturing process knowledge to challenge supplier quotes and support should-cost discussions.
Collaborate closely with R&D, Procurement, Operations, Quality, Program Management, and Supply Chain.
Apply PPI tools and structured problem-solving to technical and operational challenges.
Influence decisions through data, technical rigor, and cross-functional alignment.
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to standard work, playbooks, and best practices.