R&D Mechanical Engineer

Whisker•Auburn Hills, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Whisker is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join its Research and Advanced Development team, developing mechanical and mechatronic devices for connected pet care products. The role involves creating advanced concepts and working with firmware and electrical engineers, product managers, and designers to develop products that improve user experiences and pet well-being. The team works onsite four or more days per week, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. The engineer will research, develop, prototype, test, and optimize systems and mechanisms such as actuators, motors, gear systems, and drive mechanisms. The role also includes integrating designs with electronics, sensors, and wireless technologies; developing automated test fixtures; producing CAD models and technical drawings; selecting materials; and helping ensure designs are reliable, manufacturable, and suitable for cost-effective, high-volume production. The position contributes to product documentation and keeps current with advances in motor technology, sensing, automation, and motion control.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
5–10+ years of experience in mechanical design and development, ideally in consumer electronics, IoT devices, or similar product areas.
Experience with a broad range of mechanisms used to solve engineering problems.
Proficiency in CAD software and 3D modeling, including surfacing and top-down master modeling techniques.
Extensive experience with mechanical and rapid prototyping methods, such as 3D printing and CNC machining, and testing.
Experience creating motorized systems from the ground up.
Knowledge of materials science and experience selecting materials for performance, durability, and manufacturability.
Knowledge of injection-molded plastics, sheet metal, and other common manufacturing processes.
Understanding of design for assembly (DFA), design for manufacturability (DFM), and design for testing (DFT) principles.
Ability to analyze and optimize mechanical systems for performance, weight, cost, thermal management, and environmental durability.
Experience integrating mechanical systems with electrical, motor, and sensor technologies.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop innovative solutions balancing form, function, and cost.
Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions.
A high degree of initiative and self-motivation, and ability to motivate others.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with team members and colleagues.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary information.
Comfort with office pets, including cats and dogs.

Nice To Haves

VEX, BEST, PLTW, OCCRA, Combat Robotics, Robofest, FIRST, or other design/build challenge experience, including home projects.
Experience with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and similar platforms.
Working knowledge of GD&T and component sourcing.
Experience designing products for consumer health or pet care markets.
Basic understanding of electrical and firmware design.
Experience with Creo.

Responsibilities

Research, develop, rapidly prototype, and optimize systems and mechanisms for connected pet care products, including actuators, motors, gear systems, and drive mechanisms.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate mechanical designs with subsystems such as sensors, electronics, and wireless communication technologies.
Conduct feasibility studies and simulations to determine suitable designs for product applications.
Design, program, and fabricate automated test fixtures.
Define and perform testing to verify concepts meet performance requirements.
Select materials that balance strength, weight, cost, longevity, and durability.
Design and test prototypes, iterating based on test feedback to meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements.
Develop detailed CAD models and technical drawings of motorized systems, mechanical linkages, enclosures, and housings.
Work with production design and sourcing teams to support scalable, cost-effective, high-volume production.
Stay current with advances in motor technology, sensing, automation, and motion control and incorporate relevant solutions into new products.
Contribute to product documentation, including design specifications, design processes, test procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
Perform additional duties as required.