Principal Mechanical Engineer
$140,000–$210,000 year
On-siteIrvine, California, United States
Job Summary
Principal Mechanical Engineer for MKS’s Vibration Control Group, responsible for leading mechanical design of vibration isolation and structural support products from concept through release. Own technical direction across requirements definition, trade studies (stiffness, damping, modal behavior, load capacity, thermal effects, vacuum compatibility as applicable), and verification/validation strategies including prototype builds and environmental/vibration tests. Serve as technical authority, mentor junior engineers, manage technical risks, and maintain comprehensive documentation. Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and sales to support roadmap execution and lifecycle management; engage in customer-facing technical discussions and reviews. Travel domestically and internationally as needed to support goals and customer engagements.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related engineering discipline) required
- 8+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience in precision mechanical systems and vibration mitigation
- Demonstrated expertise in structural dynamics and vibration fundamentals (modal behavior, transmissibility, stiffness/damping tradeoffs) and applying them to real products
- Proficiency with 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) including GD&T, tolerance analysis, and creation/review of production-ready drawings and BOMs
- Experience with analysis tools (ANSYS or equivalent) and test correlation; ability to select appropriate simplifications and validate assumptions
- Hands-on prototyping and test experience: instrumentation, test planning, data analysis, and clear technical reporting
- Proven ability to lead technical workstreams, drive design reviews, and influence cross-functional decisions without direct authority
- Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills with a track record of closing issues in design and production environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical details for customers and internal stakeholders
- Customer-facing experience (requirements clarification, technical reviews, issue resolution) strongly preferred; willingness to engage with customers is a must
- Comfort operating in a regulated/quality environment with disciplined configuration control and documentation practices
Desired Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline (preferred)
- 8+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience in precision mechanical systems and vibration mitigation
- Experience with 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred) including GD&T and production-ready drawings/BOMs
- Experience with analysis tools (ANYSYS or equivalent) and test correlation
- Hands-on prototyping and test experience (instrumentation, test planning, data analysis)
- Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Customer-facing experience (requirements clarification, technical reviews) is preferred
- Experience designing vibration isolation/support systems (optical tables, breadboards, pneumatic/electronic isolation) and familiarity with cleanliness/non-magnetic materials and vacuum compatibility (preferred)
- Experience with PLM/ERP systems (e.g., Agile, SAP) (preferred)
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as necessary
- Ability to work in regulated/quality environments with disciplined configuration control
- Ability to lead technical workstreams and mentor junior engineers
- Knowledge of structural dynamics, modal behavior, and vibration fundamentals
- Familiarity with RoHS/REACH considerations (preferred)
- Experience with testing and verification strategies (prototype builds, environmental/vibration testing)
- Experience with documentation practices (CAD drawings, BOMs, test plans/reports)
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