Lead​/Principal - Mechanism & Multi-Body Dynamics Engineer

Job Overview

Lead / Principal - Mechanism & Multi-Body Dynamics Engineer – Hybrid. This hybrid position requires onsite work at the Towson, MD Design Center 3 days per week. The role supports the development of next-generation industrial equipment and drilling tool platforms through advanced simulation, analysis, and model‑based engineering. Responsibilities include building and validating multi‑body dynamic models of mechanical systems to improve product performance, durability, and design robustness.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and refine kinematic and dynamic models of mechanical systems using MBD tools such as MSC Adams, Motion Solve, Ansys Motion, Recur Dyn, or Simscape Multibody.
• Perform subsystem and system‑level analysis of drive trains, linkages, gear trains, actuation systems, impact mechanisms, rotating assemblies, and related mechanism‑driven hardware.
• Build and integrate flexible body models through FEA‑MBD co‑simulation workflows using tools such as ANSYS, LS‑DYNA, NASTRAN, or RADIOSS.
• Generate load cases, interface forces, joint reactions, torque histories, and transient event data for structural, durability, and fatigue analysis teams.
• Support mechanism‑specific modeling for products involving power transmission, motion conversion, latch/lock systems, clutching elements, and high‑speed or high‑load dynamic events.
• Correlate simulation outputs against bench, subsystem, and full‑system physical test data, and update models to improve predictive accuracy.
• Conduct DOE, sensitivity studies, and parameter sweeps to optimize mechanism performance and improve robustness across operating conditions.
• Collaborate with mechanical design teams to define assumptions for joints, contacts, friction, damping, stiffness, inertia properties, and boundary conditions.
• Support co‑simulation workflows including FMI/FMU‑based frameworks and Adams‑Simulink co‑simulation where plant dynamics influence system behavior.
• Develop scripts and automation tools using Python, MATLAB, or Adams/View macro scripting to improve model setup, post‑processing, and reporting.
• Document model assumptions, validation methods, simulation results, and recommendations in a review‑ready format for cross‑functional stakeholders.

Candidate must have a Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, or a related technical field, and typically 5+ years of experience in mechanism analysis, multi‑body dynamics, or simulation of mechanical systems (advanced degree may offset a portion of experience). The role requires 10+ years of CAE experience in product development.

Required technical experience:

• Demonstrated experience with commercial MBD tools such as MSC Adams, Motion Solve, Ansys Motion, Recur Dyn, or Simscape Multibody.
• Strong fundamentals in rigid body dynamics, kinematics, Lagrangian mechanics, constraint systems, contact mechanics, and force element modeling.
• Experience developing models for mechanical systems with multiple moving bodies, joints, contacts, and nonlinear interactions.
• Experience creating simulation outputs that support structural analysis, fatigue assessment, wear or durability engineering.
• Experience correlating simulation predictions with physical test data and improving models based on measured results.
• Working knowledge of flexible body modeling and interaction between MBD and finite element representations.
• Proficiency in technical scripting or automation using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.
• Working knowledge of structured coding languages such as C#, C++, or equivalent.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to work effectively across design, test, and analysis functions.

• Mechanism design background.
• Experience designing or supporting the design of mechanisms, drive trains, gear systems, linkages, cams, clutches, or actuation hardware.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals (text truncated).