Senior Thermal Mechanical Engineer

Description

New Wave Design is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the design, analysis, testing, and qualification of rugged-embedded computing products, including VPX, XMC, and QMC Form Factors, in addition to custom ruggedized systems. This includes responsibility for thermal engineering, materials selection, environmental testing, and production readiness. The Mechanical Engineer will work closely with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and Product Management to ensure mechanical and thermal solutions meet customer, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.

Salary Range: 

$104,000.00-$147,100.00

Please know that the salary information is a general guideline only. NWD considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities for the position candidates' work experience education/training key skills as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

Requirements

Mechanical & Thermal Engineering

• Innovate and develop high-end mechanical and thermal solutions for cutting-edge embedded electronic products, including:
• Heat frames, heat sinks, wedge locks, heat spreaders, heat pipes, and faceplates
• Enclosure and conduction-cooled designs
• Mechanical integration of connectors, optics, and fiber routing
• Perform thermal analysis and modeling to support design decisions
• Balance performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability in mechanical designs
• PCB Layout, Footprint, and library management

Analysis, Testing, and Qualification

• Design and execute thermal and mechanical test plans
• Support environmental and qualification testing (e.g., thermal cycling, vibration, shock)
• Correlate simulation results with physical test data
• Identify root causes of mechanical or thermal issues and recommend corrective actions

Materials & Reliability

• Select materials based on thermal, mechanical, environmental, and reliability requirements
• Evaluate mechanical stress, CTE mismatch, and long-term durability
• Support reliability and lifecycle considerations for deployed products

Manufacturing & Production Support

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to ensure designs are production-ready
• Support first-article builds, ESS setup, and yield improvement efforts
• Assist with documentation needed for production, qualification, and audits

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Electrical Engineering on layout-driven mechanical and thermal constraints
• Work with CAD to ensure accurate models and drawings
• Interface with customers, vendors, and suppliers on mechanical and thermal topics as needed

Documentation & Communication

• Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, including STEP models, vendor and assembly instructions
• Effectively communicate complex technical concepts to stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Technical Skills

• Minimum 5 years of relevant mechanical engineering experience
• Experience with mechanical and thermal design of electronic systems
• Knowledge of heat transfer principles and structural mechanics
• Hands-on experience with thermal or environmental testing
• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with VPX, OpenVPX, XMC, QMC, or similar embedded form factors
• Familiarity with defense, aerospace, or industrial electronics environments
• Experience supporting qualification to customer or industry standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810)
• Experience with thermal simulation tools
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or assembly partners
• Opportunity to work on high end thermal management solution for SAWP-C military application

Soft Skills

• Proven ability to complete complex thermal and mechanical projects on time and budget
• Mentor junior engineers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, innovative mindset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface with internal teams, customers, and stakeholders.

Physical Parameters:

• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds. 
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds over the head
• Must have finger and wrist dexterity with repetitive motion
• Ability to work in a lab environment, including handling electronic assemblies
• Occasional travel may be required
• Ability to work on-site as needed to support testing, builds, or issue resolution

Due to the type of work at our facilities and certain access restrictions, successful applicants must be of a "U.S. Person". The candidate must be able to prove so, with remittance of proper identification supporting so, upon an acceptance of employment. 

What we offer:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Four weeks of vacation for all employees
• 9 paid holidays observed annually
• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
• Voluntary coverages include, vision, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance
• Flexible work schedules

Diversity drives innovation; and inclusion drives success. NWD knows our employees are our greatest asset. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, respect, and a commitment to providing professional development opportunities, work-life balance initiatives, and a fulfilling employee experience, the NWD employees can tackle the toughest challenges in our industry as we deliver intelligent computing solutions at the edge. At NWD, you can grow your career and make a meaningful impact.

How to Apply:

Please complete our online application by visiting www.newwavedesign.com.

New Wave Design anticipates the application window closing approximately 28 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require New Wave Design to shorten or extend the application window.

About New Wave Design:

NWD is an industry leading designer of high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency rugged network hardware and IP cores, serving the Aerospace and Defense market for over 20 years. Our FPGA-based solutions power the future of our client’s most advanced mission processing, electronic warfare, sensor fusion, ISR, test & measurement, and maintenance applications. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, NWD solves the most challenging networking and sensor processing problems with products based on standard form factors including VPX and XMC, as well as emerging industry standards and custom solutions.