Principal Equipment Engineer, Structural Processing (Onsite)
About The Position
The Equipment Engineering organization is seeking a highly skilled Principal Equipment Engineer to support the Structural Processing engineering team. This role focuses on hands-on development, integration, and validation of advanced manufacturing equipment and automation solutions used in process‑intensive manufacturing applications. The ideal candidate is an experienced technical contributor with strong expertise in industrial automation, robotics, controls, and structural processing equipment. This engineer will execute equipment development workstreams, collaborate with vendors and integrators, and deliver robust, scalable solutions for multiple manufacturing sites. This position is execution-focused and centered on technical solution development, detailed design evaluation, and equipment integration support. Project management activities (schedule, budget, governance) are managed by the Program Management Office, enabling this role to focus on engineering excellence and hands-on technical problem solving.
Requirements
- Typically requires: A University Degree or equivalent experience and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience, or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years experience
- Experience developing, integrating, or deploying automated industrial or manufacturing equipment
- Direct experience working with equipment OEMs, integrators, or automation suppliers
- Ability to travel up to 25% to manufacturing sites and vendor facilities as required
- U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
Nice To Haves
- Strong experience with industrial automation and robotics
- Ability to evaluate and troubleshoot complex engineering and controls issues
- Working knowledge of PLC-based controls, robotics integration, sensors, and equipment interfaces
- Understanding of machine safety and functional safety principles
- Experience with cold spray deposition, including equipment development or process integration
- Experience with automated brazing or converting manual brazing processes into automation-ready equipment solutions
- Experience with robotic welding, forming systems, press equipment, or other structural processing technologies
- Experience with equipment commissioning, debug, acceptance testing, and production ramp
- Experience supporting multi‑site equipment deployment
- Demonstrated ability to challenge vendor designs and drive technical improvements
- Strong hands-on problem-solving, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills
Responsibilities
- Develop, integrate, and validate advanced manufacturing equipment for structural processing applications, including cold spray deposition, robotic welding, brazing systems, press systems, and forming equipment.
- Own execution of assigned equipment development workstreams, including design collaboration, controls integration, commissioning, debug, and acceptance testing.
- Work closely with equipment OEMs, integrators, and automation suppliers; lead day‑to‑day technical interaction and challenge design assumptions to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and scalability.
- Support equipment architecture, controls strategy, robotics integration, functional safety implementation, and process monitoring.
- Translate complex manufacturing process requirements into practical, scalable equipment designs.
- Conduct technical evaluations, design reviews, troubleshooting, and root‑cause analysis across automation, controls, cold spray, welding, and brazing technologies.
- Support development of standardized equipment platforms, tooling concepts, and integration practices deployable across multiple sites.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and site teams to define technical requirements and ensure equipment readiness.
- Participate in equipment commissioning, startup, debug, and operational handoff at manufacturing sites.
- Generate engineering documentation, specifications, validation plans, and technical reports.
- Provide subject matter expertise in cold spray, automated welding, brazing, industrial robotics, structural processing, automation, and controls.
- May mentor junior engineers and support capability-building within the Structural Processing team.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
- Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
- Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
- Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
- Adoption Assistance
- Autism Benefit
- Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
- Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
- Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
- Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
- Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
