About this role
Position Summary:
The Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the mechanical design, update, and analysis of enclosures and packaging for RF power amplifier products — from amplifier modules through rack-mount systems and tactical booster amplifiers. This is a mid-level, largely independent role: the engineer owns mechanical design decisions for the product line, from concept through production and field support, and is the sole mechanical engineer embedded in a cross-functional team of electrical, RF, and PCB layout engineers. The role also provides technical oversight and review of a Mechanical Draftsperson's work, ensuring drawings, models, and documentation meet engineering intent and quality standards.
Essential Duties:
- Design, update, and analyze mechanical enclosures, chassis, and packaging for RF power amplifier products, balancing electrical performance, thermal management, manufacturability, and cost.
- Perform detailed 3-D modeling, drawings, and design work in SolidWorks for new product development as well as sustaining/legacy product support.
- Conduct thermal and cooling analysis (heat sinking, airflow, conduction/convection paths) for high-power RF amplifier assemblies to manage thermal performance under sustained load.
- Perform finite element analysis (structural, thermal, vibration, shock) to validate enclosure and packaging designs.
- Design for machined metal manufacturing — CNC machining, casting, extrusion — as well as sheet metal fabrication; specify materials, surface finishes, coatings, and platings appropriate for RF and thermal performance.
- Drive Value Add/Value Engineering (VAVE) activities within the product line including cost/benefit analysis and researching alternative manufacturing options.
- Design mechanical interconnects, EMI/RFI shielding, and environmental sealing (IP-rated gasketing) for enclosures.
- Own product configuration and documentation: BOM management, assembly guides, exploded views, drawing packages, and configuration/change control (ECO/ECR) through the PLM system.
- Review, redline, and approve models and drawings produced by the Mechanical Draftsperson; provide day-to-day technical direction, mentorship, and quality oversight of drafting work — without formal supervisory/HR responsibility.
- Partner closely with electrical engineers, RF engineers, and the PCB layout engineer to integrate mechanical packaging with circuit boards, RF components, connectors, and system-level requirements; this role is the sole mechanical engineer supporting the team.
- Support prototyping (3D printing, machined prototypes) and apply DFM/DFA/DFT principles to improve manufacturability, testability, and cost.
- Troubleshoot and provide mechanical design support across the full product life cycle — from initial specification through qualification, production, and field support.
- Prepare technical reports, proposals, and cost estimates; prepare and deliver presentations and participate in design reviews.
- Interface with manufacturing, suppliers, and, as needed, customers to resolve mechanical design, fabrication, and quality issues.
- Identify and specify fasteners, connectors, and hardware appropriate for RF amplifier assemblies.
- Research and recommend materials, processes, tools, and suppliers to advance mechanical engineering capability within the product line.
Education / Experience:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related field)
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-marking, work quality, and to reduce costs. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs
- Approximately 4 - 7 years of experience in mechanical design of electronic or electromechanical packaging/enclosures, with demonstrated ability to work independently
- Hands-on experience designing for machined metal manufacturing processes (CNC machining, casting, extrusion) required; sheet metal fabrication experience a plus
- Experience with thermal management and cooling design for power electronics, RF, or similar high-heat-density assemblies required
- Proficiency with SolidWorks (modeling, drawings, and simulation/FEA tools) required
- Experience reviewing or directing the work of a drafter, designer, or junior engineer preferred
- Experience with PLM and BOM management systems (e.g., Arena) preferred
- Familiarity with MIL-SPEC and IP-rated (ingress protection) design standards a plus
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
Skills and Abilities:
- Self-starter, comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, resource-lean engineering environment as the sole mechanical engineer on the team.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills; able to work effectively with electrical, RF, and PCB layout engineers to reconcile mechanical, electrical, and RF design constraints.
- Able to provide clear technical direction and constructive review of a draftsperson's models and drawings.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting in design reviews and to internal stakeholders.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; able to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.