Cable Harness and Interconnect Design Engineer

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. For more information about Draper, visit

Draper is seeking an experienced Cable Harness and Interconnect Design Engineer who will play a key role in the early stages of complex programs; developing rugged, high reliability interconnect solutions that enable mission critical systems to perform in the most demanding environments. This includes the design and development of wiring harnesses, cabling, and connector systems that support RF and other sensitive signals, as well as board-to-board and system level interconnects.

You ll join a highly collaborative mechanical design team that owns the full product lifecycle, from concept and trade studies through prototyping, testing, and final delivery. Your work will directly contribute to systems used in defense, space, and autonomous platforms where performance and reliability are non-negotiable.

• A system level mindset, capable of balancing electrical, mechanical, and manufacturability considerations.
• A strong desire to own the design process, from initial concept to delivered hardware.
• Curiosity and creativity in solving complex interconnect challenges that have real-world national security impact.

• Design and develop high reliability cable harnesses, interconnects, and connector assemblies for ruggedized systems and harsh environments (high-g, vibration, temperature extremes).
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to define requirements and ensure design compatibility across disciplines.
• Apply knowledge of MIL-STD connectors, IPC Class 2 & 3 cable/connector standards, and relevant industry specifications.
• Perform trade studies, tolerance analyses, and material selection to optimize reliability and performance.
• Generate detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and documentation to support manufacturing and assembly.
• Collaborate with production teams and suppliers to validate designs, support builds, and resolve non-conformances.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts to advance interconnect design processes and tooling.

• Performs mechanical design concept exploration, trade study analysis, down-selection, prototyping, and testing with minimal guidance from group leader.
• Help define the design approach for a particular problem and independently execute assignments.
• Contribute high quality content for technical reports and presentations with minimal guidance.
• Proactively identify needs and concerns associated with design decisions and communicate them to project leadership.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• Team player able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to your discipline.

Requires a Bachelor s degree in Mechanical Engineering or other relevant field. Master s degree is preferred.

Requires 3-5 years with a bachelor s degree in mechanical engineering or full cycle of mechanical design experience. 0-3 years experience with a master s degree.

• Experience with board-to-board interconnects, flex circuits, or miniaturized connectors.
• Knowledge of system integration, assembly procedures, and test validation.
• Ability to lead design reviews, mentor junior engineers, and provide cross functional technical guidance.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

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Job Location - City:
Cambridge

Job Location - State:
Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $75,000.00 - $

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including…