Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, Level 5

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, Level 5

3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Zulu Pods is building America's next-generation component and sub‑system company, and we are seeking highly motivated team players to join us in this mission.

We believe in bringing your human to work and embrace out‑of‑the‑box thinking and creativity. We also believe in excellence and competence, with an engineering team boasting extensive turbo machinery mechanical design expertise and holding a combined experience of more than 150 years.

• operate with Integrity
• take Extreme Ownership
• lift each other up with Servant Leadership
• win by Exceeding Expectations
• succeed with Optimistic Vision

If these values describe you, please continue.

Zulu Pods is seeking an experienced mechanical design engineer in our Northampton, Massachusetts location. The selected individual will continue developing our patented ZPod technology and explore potential new markets by designing, prototyping, and testing new products.

The experienced design engineer will help to innovate in the space of fluid mechanics, electromechanical devices, and solve complex engineering problems. The individual will lead product development of critical importance to the organization, while working with and helping to grow younger engineers.

This individual must be capable of thinking critically and operating independently. An ideal candidate is experienced or at least interested in all aspects of engineering. A broad understanding of aerospace applications is greatly beneficial as products progress toward representative testing on turbojet engines, drivetrain, and ultimately implementation on‑wing.

Working at a start‑up is dynamic and may take on many other shapes. This also means that there will be opportunities to develop this role to suit your skills and interests, even outside of engineering.

• Design and Analysis:
  Lead the design, analysis, and validation of complex fluidic components and systems (e.g., propulsion systems, thermal management, fuel systems) for various aerospace applications
• System Integration:
  Oversee the integration of fluidic and mechanical subsystems into larger aerospace platforms, ensuring performance, safety, and reliability requirements are met
• Modeling and Simulation:
  Develop and apply advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and other analytical tools to predict, optimize, and troubleshoot system behavior
• Testing and Validation:
  Plan, execute, and analyze results from ground and flight tests to validate system performance against design specifications, iterating as necessary
• Requirements Management:
  Translate high‑level mission and system requirements into detailed fluidic and mechanical component specifications
• Problem Solving:
  Rapidly diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to fluid mechanics, system performance anomalies, and hardware failures
• Documentation:
  Generate and maintain detailed engineering documentation, including requirements specifications, design documents, test reports, and manufacturing procedures, adhering to industry standards
• Collaboration:
  
  Work with cross‑functional teams to successfully execute projects on time and within design scope
• Technical Leadership:
  Act as the System Architect or Lead Responsible Engineer for a major subsystem; mentor junior engineers and effectively present complex technical data and trade studies

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum of 9 years of professional experience in fluidics, mechanical packaging, and mechanical system technologies.

• System Design & Analysis:
  Proven history of leading the design, analysis, and validation of complex aerospace fluidic subsystems.
• Advanced Fluid Dynamics & CFD:
  Expert‑level proficiency in compressible and in compressible fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics; extensive applied experience in CFD simulations.
• Modeling & Simulation:
  Exceptional skill in using analytical and system‑level modeling tools to develop dynamic models of fluidic and…