Lead / Principal - Mechanism & Multi-Body Dynamics Engineer

About the role

This is a hybrid position and requires onsite work at our Towson, MD Design Center 3 days per week.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and refine kinematic and dynamic models of mechanical systems using MBD tools such as MSC Adams, MotionSolve, Ansys Motion, RecurDyn, or Simscape Multibody.
• Perform subsystem and system-level analysis of drivetrains, linkages, gear trains, actuation systems, impact mechanisms, rotating assemblies, and related mechanism-driven hardware.
• Build and integrate flexible body models through FEA-MBD co-simulation workflows using tools such as ANSYS, LS-DYNA, NASTRAN, or RADIOSS.
• Generate load cases, interface forces, joint reactions, torque histories, and transient event data for structural, durability, and fatigue analysis teams.
• Support mechanism-specific modeling for products involving power transmission, motion conversion, latch/lock systems, clutching elements, and high-speed or high-load dynamic events.
• Correlate simulation outputs against bench, subsystem, and full-system physical test data, and update models to improve predictive accuracy.
• Conduct DOE, sensitivity studies, and parameter sweeps to optimize mechanism performance and improve robustness across operating conditions.
• Collaborate with mechanical design teams to define assumptions for joints, contacts, friction, damping, stiffness, inertia properties, and boundary conditions.
• Support co-simulation workflows including FMI/FMU-based frameworks and Adams-Simulink co-simulation where plant dynamics influence system behavior.
• Develop scripts and automation tools using Python, MATLAB, or Adams/View macro scripting to improve model setup, post-processing, and reporting.
• Document model assumptions, validation methods, simulation results, and recommendations in a review-ready format for cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, or a related technical field.
• Typically 5+ years of relevant experience in mechanism analysis, multi-body dynamics, or simulation of mechanical systems; advanced degree may offset a portion of experience.
• 10+ years of relevant CAE experience in product development.
• Demonstrated experience with one or more commercial MBD tools such as MSC Adams, MotionSolve, Ansys Motion, RecurDyn, or Simscape Multibody.
• Strong fundamentals in rigid body dynamics, kinematics, Lagrangian mechanics, constraint systems, contact mechanics, and force element modeling.
• Experience developing models for mechanical systems with multiple moving bodies, joints, contacts, and nonlinear interactions.
• Experience creating simulation outputs that support structural analysis, fatigue assessment, wear or durability engineering.
• Experience correlating simulation predictions with physical test data and improving models based on measured results.
• Working knowledge of flexible body modeling and interaction between MBD and finite element representations.
• Proficiency in technical scripting or automation using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.
• Working knowledge of structured coding languages C#, C++ or equivalent.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively across design, test, and analysis functions.

Qualifications

• Mechanism Design Background
• Experience designing or supporting the design of mechanisms, drivetrains, gear systems, linkages, cams, clutches, or actuation hardware.
• Strong understanding of mechanical packaging, tolerance effects, manufacturability, assembly constraints, and real-world hardware behavior.
• Ability to translate CAD-based product architecture into efficient and representative simulation models.
• Experience working directly with product development teams to influence mechanism concept selection, layout decisions, and design tradeoffs.
• Familiarity with industrial equipment, power tools, drilling tools, or other ruggedized hardware operating in demanding environments.
• Pure Simulation Background
• Deep experience in high-fidelity MBD model development, solver setup, numerical troubleshooting, and model correlation.
• Experience with FEA-MBD coupling, modal reduction techniques, and flexible body generation using ANSYS, LS-DYNA, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, or RADIOSS.
• Familiarity with co-simulation frameworks such as FMI/FMU and Adams-Simulink co-simulation.
• Advanced experience performing DOE, sensitivity analysis, optimization studies, and performance trade studies for mechanism tuning and robustness.
• Experience supporting simulation-driven decisions for durability, transient events, vibration response, or dynamic load management.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, life, vision, disability, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement.
• Discounts on Stanley Black & Decker tools and other partner programs.