Principal Mechanical Engineer

AeroVironment•Princeton, CA

23h

About The Position

The Principal Mechanical Engineer applies engineering techniques to design, install, modify, analyze, repair, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. The role leads mechanical design, testing, and production of electrical machines, as well as electronics packaging for high-altitude aerospace applications. It leads development of mechanical packaging for electronic equipment designed to withstand stringent mass, volume, thermal, and vibration requirements, and manages mid-size development projects outsourced to subcontractors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
12–15 years of relevant technical experience in Mechanical Engineering, including at least 7 years developing production rotating electrical machines, electronics equipment packaging solutions, and/or mechanical device solutions for industrial and aerospace applications.
Experience developing mechanical subsystem requirements specifications according to MIL-STD 961D or an equivalent standard.
Sufficient proficiency with SolidWorks for mechanical modeling, ANSYS for structural and fatigue analysis, and ANSYS Icepak for thermal analysis.
Extensive experience with SolidWorks.
Extensive experience designing electrical rotating machines for high-performance applications.
Extensive experience with thermal-management tradeoffs and solutions and material properties.
Experience with bonding techniques and different adhesives for extreme environmental conditions.
Experience with electrical-machine manufacturing methodologies and creating and maintaining product document trees.
Experience creating and maintaining product bills of materials (BOMs).
Experience with test and measurement techniques, such as torque-transducer calibration and instrumentation.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Must presently hold or be capable of obtaining a U.S. security clearance.
Must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR requirements or be eligible for an export license; any offer requiring an export license is conditional on the company being able to obtain it within a timeframe consistent with business requirements.
Ability to work in an office and production environment.
Ability to sit and stand for long periods and to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Recognition by a reputable international engineering society, such as ASME, at senior membership level or higher.
Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 or DO-160 and with MIL-STD 961D or equivalent standards for developing subsystem technical specifications.
Full understanding and knowledge of engineering principles in the technical discipline.
Ability to work independently and communicate concepts effectively to technical and non-technical staff.
Ability to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment where small teams share a broad variety of duties.
Strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives.
Ownership and responsibility for current and past work products.
Commitment to learning from mistakes and improving individual, team, and company performance.
Effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Teamwork and collaboration, prioritizing team success.

Responsibilities

Lead or support thermal, structural, dynamic, and fluid-flow analysis for electronics equipment.
Lead testing and data collection in laboratory and field environments.
Model mechanical devices and select appropriate materials.
Perform stress, fatigue, and thermal analyses; select bonding materials.
Develop mechanical drawings and specify dimensional tolerances.
Develop and implement assembly instructions and test procedures.
Develop and implement test plans and procedures to verify designs.
Evaluate complex or unique issues using independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
Determine methods and procedures independently for new or special assignments.
May supervise the activities of others.
Perform other duties as assigned.