Principal Mechanical Engineer

DriSteem•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Principal Engineer – Mechanical provides technical leadership to engineering teams and projects, drives new product development, oversees continuation engineering initiatives, and provides technical direction across the organization. The role applies extensive mechanical engineering expertise to promote innovation and excellence in product design and development. The position leads value analysis and value engineering initiatives to improve product value across cost, performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and lifecycle considerations. It also serves as a technical authority for complex engineering challenges; leads product development from concept through production; and provides technical leadership for complex programs, including resolving design issues, managing technical risk, and supporting project cost, schedule, and performance objectives. The Principal Mechanical Engineer collaborates with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders, mentors engineers, promotes engineering best practices, and supports company standards, Lean initiatives, and ISO 9001 compliance. The role also contributes to engineering strategy and promotes relevant industry trends and technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline.
At least 10 years of directly relevant experience.
Significant experience in new product development and continuation engineering.
Deep understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, and manufacturing processes.
Working knowledge of electrical power and controls systems.
Extensive experience with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD and PLM software.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across teams, functions, and organizational levels.
Ability to balance technical requirements, product cost, schedule, manufacturing capability, technical risk, and customer value in engineering decisions.
Ability to provide technical leadership across multiple complex projects and priorities.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering activities to improve product value through optimization of cost, performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and lifecycle considerations.
Identify and prioritize cost-reduction opportunities through design simplification, component standardization, material and process selection, supplier alternatives, and reducing part count and manufacturing complexity.
Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Service, Sales, and other stakeholders to identify and evaluate product improvement opportunities.
Develop technical and business justification for proposed changes, including cost-benefit analysis, implementation cost, technical risk, validation requirements, and expected savings.
Ensure cost-reduction initiatives preserve or improve product performance, safety, reliability, regulatory compliance, and customer value.
Promote Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA), standardization, modular design, and reuse of proven architectures across product families.
Establish methods to track and communicate the technical and financial impact of implemented VA/VE initiatives.
Serve as a technical authority for complex mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering challenges, providing guidance across projects, product families, and the engineering organization.
Lead design reviews and provide technical oversight for critical product architecture, design decisions, analytical methods, and validation strategies.
Mentor engineers and support the development of technical capability, engineering judgment, and engineering best practices.
Identify and advance opportunities to improve product architecture, engineering methods, design practices, and technical capability across product families.
Drive systematic resolution of complex or recurring technical problems through root-cause analysis, engineering analysis, testing, and corrective action.
Represent Engineering in technically complex customer, supplier, and cross-functional discussions, providing expertise and supporting resolution of critical issues.
Lead design and development of products and systems from initial concept through final production.
Lead technical feasibility and trade-off studies considering product performance, cost targets, manufacturability, reliability, technical risk, and schedule.
Develop detailed design specifications, 3D models, and engineering drawings of fabricated parts and assemblies using CAD systems.
Specify and evaluate purchased components, subsystems, and services.
Perform simulations, prototyping, and testing to validate designs and ensure product performance and reliability meet specifications.
Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to align product development with market needs and customer requirements.
Establish and drive design-to-cost objectives during new product development, balancing customer requirements, product performance, reliability, and total delivered cost.
Provide technical leadership for complex product-development programs, establishing technical direction, resolving critical design issues, managing technical risk, and supporting project cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
Coordinate with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to support project success.
Monitor project progress, identify and resolve issues, and communicate status updates to stakeholders.
Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, regulations, and company policies.
Ensure compliance with and contribute to continuous improvement of company standards, Engineering department processes, and best practices.
Support Lean initiatives and continual compliance with ISO 9001 standards and procedures.
Contribute to the development and execution of engineering strategic goals, initiatives, and standards.
Maintain awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in mechanical and HVAC engineering, and promote relevant knowledge and technology adoption.
Share technical knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices with engineering team members.
Collaborate with peers and participate in team engagement events to contribute to a positive work atmosphere.
Comply with company safety and health rules and policies, promote safe work practices, and report safety concerns to senior managers.