Mechanical Engineer, Hardware Development

Responsibilities

• Drive the detailed mechanical design of vacuum system components and assemblies, including pumps, valves, tubing, and heat exchangers, through all lifecycle phases and demonstrate extreme ownership.
• Apply fluids and mechanical engineering principles to the development of hardware operating in demanding environments, including high-pressure, high-vacuum, or thermally extreme conditions.
• Conduct engineering analysis to size and validate system and component performance, using a combination of hand calculations, simulation tools, and first-principles reasoning.
• Integrate mechanical systems with electrical, sensing, and control components to deliver complete, functional hardware working to bridge the gap between design intent and working product.
• Lead and participate in design reviews at the component, subsystem, and system level, communicating technical decisions clearly to a multidisciplinary team.
• Oversee procurement, assembly, integration, and operation of mechanical and vacuum systems hardware, maintaining hands-on involvement from parts receipt through fully integrated system operation.
• Develop and execute test plans to verify and validate hardware performance, from bench-level component tests through full system qualification.
• Collaborate closely with adjacent engineering teams to ensure hardware interfaces are well-defined, requirements are met, and the integrated system performs as intended.
• Scale designs from laboratory prototypes to production-representative hardware, applying sound engineering judgment to make designs robust, repeatable, and manufacturable.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical subject area.
• 3+ years of experience in the design of electro-mechanical systems using a CAD software design package (e.g. Solidworks, NX, CATIA, or Creo) and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Direct experience designing and troubleshooting hardware for high vacuum systems.
• Recent, practical hands-on experience with hardware assembly, integration, and testing.
• Familiarity with common manufacturing methods (machining, welding, hand and power tools, etc.).
• Ability to operate effectively with minimal direction, maintaining a high attention to detail and aspiration for technical excellence, and have a demonstrated track record of resourcefulness and success from previous work.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D.in Mechanical Engineering, or related technical subject area.
• Direct experience designing or operating ultra-high vacuum chambers.
• Proficiency with FEA software (e.g., ANSYS Mechanical, NASTRAN, Abaqus) and fluid analysis tools.
• Experience programming or configuring control systems (LabVIEW, Python) for vacuum automation.
• Functional knowledge of electrical systems, data acquisition (DAQ), sensor integration, and wiring schematics to ensure cohesive electro-mechanical design.

Export Control Regulations

Compensation range for employees is

• Target Levels:
• Level 2 Range: $110,000 - $150,000
• Level 3 Range: $125,000 - $195,000
• We will consider candidates with a wide variety of experience levels for this position. Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

Benefits

• Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, and other benefits
• Paid Time Off: Flexible PTO policy with paid company holidays.