Mechanical Engineer III

What You’ll Do

• Perform mechanical engineering design and analysis for telescope, opto-mechanical, and instrumentation subsystems, using 3-D CAD tools to produce models, assemblies, and detailed drawings that comply with project standards.
• Independently solve moderately complex mechanical design problems for assigned subsystems, including selection of materials, fasteners, and fabrication methods suitable for precision observatory environments and remote sites.
• Translate system and science requirements into mechanical requirements and design concepts for components and subassemblies, under the guidance of the Principal Mechanical Engineer and Systems Engineer.
• Perform or support mechanical analyses (for example, basic structural, thermal, vibration, and tolerance assessments) and use analysis results to refine and validate designs.
• Prepare engineering documentation for new parts and modifications, including drawings, bills of material, specification sheets, and integration procedures that meet configuration control and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with the Principal Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, and other team members to develop techniques, procedures, tooling, assembly sequences, and test setups for mechanical subsystems.
• Support sourcing and technical evaluation of parts and assemblies; work with vendors and fabricators to resolve manufacturability, tolerancing, and quality issues, and to ensure designs can be built as intended.
• Coordinate technical problem-solving directly or in conjunction with other members of the project team, escalating issues to the Principal Mechanical Engineer when appropriate.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of design standards, checklists, and best practices for mechanical design and documentation within the ngGONG project.
• Arrange and coordinate activities related to assigned subsystems and interact with other departments and vendors when required.

Core Competencies

• Technical Mastery – Expertise in mechanical system design, analysis, and development for high-precision telescope and instrumentation applications.
• Systems Thinking – Ability to balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule at the subsystem and system levels, and to understand how assigned subsystems fit into the overall ngGONG architecture.
• Techical Ownership – Takes ownership of assigned mechanical subsystems; leads design tasks and subsystem reviews; fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing within the engineering team.
• Innovation & Problem Solving – Anticipates design challenges and develops creative, technically sound solutions using appropriate analysis and trade studies.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration – Coordinates effectively with optical, electrical/electronics, controls, systems, and civil engineers to ensure coherent interfaces and integrated designs.
• Project Execution – Supports planning, estimation, and risk management for mechanical design efforts on assigned subsystems; delivers work to agreed scope, schedule, and quality.
• Quality & Accountability – Maintains design integrity, adheres to engineering standards, follows configuration management practices, and ensures thorough documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, including design, analysis, and documentation of complex mechanical subsystems.
• Ability to resolve technical problems by applying engineering and physics principles relevant to mechanical design, including use of 3-D CAD tools and sound design practices.
• Proficiency with a 3-D CAD package (such as SolidWorks) for part and assembly modeling and drawing creation, including basic GD&T.
• Experience performing basic mechanical analyses (e.g., hand calculations, simple FEA, or tolerance analysis) to support and justify design decisions.
• Ability to develop conceptual ideas based on requirements and specifications and help transform these concepts into functional, manufacturable hardware.
• Ability to speak and write effectively, including preparation and presentation of technical reports and design documentation.
• Ability to cooperate with and obtain the support of others, working effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Knowledge of technological developments in relevant mechanical engineering fields and the ability to apply them to existing and new assignments.

Preferred Experience

• With large-scale scientific instrumentation, aerospace, or observatory systems, particularly opto-mechanical or precision motion systems.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, integration, alignment, and testing of mechanical subsystems.
• Familiarity with configuration management, version control, and project documentation systems.
• Experience using FEA tools and/or basic CFD tools to support mechanical design work.
• Experience supporting alignment of opto-mechanical systems or precision mechanisms, including use of relevant metrology tools.
• Demonstrated growth in technical responsibility and ability to contribute to technical excellence within engineering teams.