Jr Mechanical Engineer; Sustaining Engineering

Job Summary Job Responsibilities

• Lead and support VAVE projects to reduce material, manufacturing, and procurement costs without compromising performance, reliability, or customer specifications.
• Conduct teardown analyses, cost modeling, and benchmarking exercises to identify value improvement opportunities across existing hydraulic cylinder product lines.
• Develop and maintain engineering change documentation, ECOs, and redlined drawings to support approved VAVE and CPI initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Finance to validate and implement design changes that improve cost, lead time, or manufacturability.
• Support the evaluation and qualification of alternate materials, suppliers, and manufacturing processes; develop and execute test plans to validate changes.
• Develop and maintain DFMEAs, risk assessments, and associated test plans to ensure design integrity is preserved through continuous improvement changes.
• Apply working knowledge of hydraulic cylinder design fundamentals — including sealing technology, tube/rod/piston design, and end cap configurations — to evaluate design alternatives.
• Prepare engineering sketches, specifications, and analysis data to define design parameters for modified or cost-reduced components.
• Work within PLM/PDM systems (Windchill) and CAD tools (CREO) to manage and release updated product documentation.
• Participate in design reviews and change control processes; present findings and recommendations to engineering leadership.
• Support reliability testing and performance validation for design changes; prepare test reports and project completion summaries.
• Apply relevant industry standards (ASTM, ASME, ANSI, ABS, DNV) to ensure all design changes maintain compliance.
• Effectively communicate project status, findings, and technical rationale to internal stakeholders and, where applicable, customers and suppliers.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field from an accredited four‑year university.
• 0–2 years of engineering experience; internship or co‑op experience in a manufacturing or product engineering environment is a plus.
• Exposure to VAVE, lean engineering, design‑to‑cost, or continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.
• Familiarity with hydraulic systems, fluid power components, or precision mechanical assemblies preferred; willingness to develop deep product knowledge required.
• Proficiency or demonstrated aptitude in 3D CAD (CREO preferred) and PDM/PLM systems (Windchill preferred).
• Working knowledge of engineering analysis tools (FEA, ANSYS, or equivalent) is a plus.
• Understanding of GD&T, engineering drawing standards, and manufacturing processes (machining, welding, sealing systems).
• Must be a self‑starter with strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal guidance.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

• VAVE / Continuous Improvement – Demonstrates awareness of value engineering principles; identifies cost and performance trade‑offs; participates in or leads structured improvement projects using data‑driven approaches.
• Product Development & Sustaining – Experience supporting product lifecycle activities including design changes, specification updates, and engineering change management; takes ownership of assigned deliverables.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves technical problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information using engineering best practices and structured tools (8D, FMEA, root cause analysis).
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Ability to work effectively with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance teams to drive changes from concept through implementation.
• Computer Skills – Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); working knowledge of CAD (CREO preferred), PLM (Windchill preferred), and project management tools.