Senior Mechanical Engineer

Waters Corporation • Goleta, CA

1d

About The Position

Overview Waters Corporation is seeking a highly skilled Senior Sustaining Engineer to become a key contributor to our Development Engineering Team of Light Scattering Instruments in Goleta, California. This role is to lead product improvement initiatives and provide advance technical support across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and customer service functions. In this role, you will guide a team of engineers to ensure the long term performance, reliability, and sustainability of our advanced light scattering products. This position is ideal for a hands-on engineering leader who excels at problem solving, driving cross functional alignment, and optimizing complex products throughout their lifecycle. Responsibilities Product Improvement: Drive continuous improvement projects of light scattering instruments by enhancing performance, quality, and reliability through data driven analysis and innovative engineering solutions. Lead the design, validation, and release of precision mechanical components — creating robust drawings, specifications, test cases, and prototypes that ensure high performance, manufacturability, and reliability of analytical instruments. Lifecycle & Change Management: Own engineering documentation and change management processes across R&D, pre-production, and post‑production phases. Develop and review engineering change orders (ECOs) and documentation to support design updates and product lifecycle transitions Cross‑Functional Operational Support: Provide advance technical guidance to Manufacturing and Quality teams to troubleshoot and resolve production and field issues. Lead engineering evaluations for alternate components, redesigns, and risk‑mitigation strategies to ensure supply continuity and operational efficiency. Cost & Efficiency Optimization: Identify and execute cost‑reduction opportunities in materials, processes, and product design without compromising performance or quality. Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) - coordinating with Quality department and suppliers to refine designs, reduce complexity, and improve yield.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in a production, manufacturing, or product-sustaining environment.
• Proficiency in CAD and/or ECAD tools, engineering documentation, and PLM systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and product development methodologies.
• Strong hands‑on ability in prototype assembly, testing, and experimental system development.
• Excellent project management, communication, and organizational skills with a strong ability to collaborate across teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting reliability engineering and sustainability practices for analytical or scientific instrumentation.
• Strong mechanical design knowledge, including GD&T, tolerance stack up, and surface treatments.
• Familiarity with PCB fabrication and assembly processes.
• Experience supporting supply chain strategy, alternate component qualification, and working with global/offshore suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement projects of light scattering instruments by enhancing performance, quality, and reliability through data driven analysis and innovative engineering solutions.
• Lead the design, validation, and release of precision mechanical components — creating robust drawings, specifications, test cases, and prototypes that ensure high performance, manufacturability, and reliability of analytical instruments.
• Own engineering documentation and change management processes across R&D, pre-production, and post‑production phases.
• Develop and review engineering change orders (ECOs) and documentation to support design updates and product lifecycle transitions
• Provide advance technical guidance to Manufacturing and Quality teams to troubleshoot and resolve production and field issues.
• Lead engineering evaluations for alternate components, redesigns, and risk‑mitigation strategies to ensure supply continuity and operational efficiency.
• Identify and execute cost‑reduction opportunities in materials, processes, and product design without compromising performance or quality.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) - coordinating with Quality department and suppliers to refine designs, reduce complexity, and improve yield.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level