Staff Mechanical Engineer

Staff Mechanical Engineer

The Staff Mechanical Engineer serves as a recognized subject matter expert in the design and development of advanced manufacturing tooling and equipment. This role leads high-impact engineering programs, defines system architecture, and partners closely with leadership to solve complex technical challenges and advance next-generation manufacturing platforms. The engineer drives technical direction, develops robust and scalable equipment solutions, and ensures alignment with process and manufacturing requirements for cutting-edge thin-film, vacuum, and superconductor-related applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of advanced manufacturing tooling and equipment, with a focus on thin-film, vacuum, and related process technologies.
• Define and own the mechanical architecture of complex tools and systems, ensuring scalability, robustness, and manufacturability.
• Drive full product development lifecycle activities from concept and requirements definition through detailed design, prototyping, validation, and release to production.
• Design, model, and document mechanical components and assemblies using SolidWorks, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to engineering standards.
• Apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and related analysis methods to optimize system performance, including thermal, fluid, and vacuum behavior.
• Develop and refine tooling and equipment for processes such as CVD and PVD, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and reliability targets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including process engineering, manufacturing, operations, and leadership, to align equipment design with process needs and factory capabilities.
• Lead cross-functional technical initiatives, providing technical direction, guidance, and mentorship to other engineers and contributors.
• Troubleshoot complex mechanical and system-level issues, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
• Ensure that equipment designs support efficient installation, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement in a production environment.
• Prepare and present technical reviews, design justifications, and status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Champion best practices in mechanical design, analysis, and documentation to support high-quality, repeatable manufacturing outcomes.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in mechanical design and development of advanced manufacturing tooling and equipment.
• Hands-on CVD tool building and design experience, with the ability to create tooling solutions from concept through deployment.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for 3D modeling, assemblies, and detailed mechanical drawings.
• Experience using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools and methods to analyze and optimize mechanical systems.
• Proven ability to create or develop products from day one and lead them through the entire product development lifecycle.
• In-depth experience working with complex systems, including design from scratch, rather than only maintaining or upgrading mature equipment.
• Experience with thin-film and vacuum-related mechanical systems, including PVD and related process equipment.
• Prior leadership of cross-functional technical initiatives, demonstrating the ability to coordinate and guide multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address complex technical challenges in a structured and systematic way.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in designing equipment or tooling for advanced materials manufacturing, such as superconductor-related applications.
• Background in developing robust, scalable mechanical solutions for high-value capital equipment.
• Exposure to next-generation manufacturing platforms and automation-focused equipment design.
• Experience working on high-visibility, high-impact engineering programs with significant external funding or strategic importance.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and architecture across multiple projects or platforms.
• Interest in contributing to the build-out of new manufacturing facilities and associated tooling infrastructure.

Work Environment

This role is based onsite Monday through Friday in a manufacturing and engineering environment. The engineer works closely with cross-functional teams in a facility focused on advanced tooling and equipment for thin-film, vacuum, and superconductor-related manufacturing. The environment involves regular interaction with mechanical design tools such as SolidWorks and analysis tools including CFD, as well as hands-on engagement with complex CVD, PVD, and vacuum systems on the shop floor. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to a significant, government-backed investment in a new plant and to shape next-generation manufacturing platforms within a collaborative, technically driven setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $140000.00 - $210000.00/yr. Health, dental, and vision available on the first day of employment 401(k) match Paid parental leave & adoption assistance Educational reimbursement Relocation assistance paid in the form of a sign on bonus up to $15k

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston, TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 3, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.