Principal Design Engineer - Gearboxes & Transmissions

Principal Design Engineer - Gearboxes & Transmissions

What Timken makes possible begins with you. Those who came before us helped land a man on the moon, create the world's infrastructure, and introduce renewable energy alternatives. Now you can join the Timken team to write your own unique story and help drive what's next.

A career at Timken means you can have an immediate impact doing Work That Matters to the world— improving the efficiency of today's industrial equipment and preparing for the future of motion on our planet and beyond. New employees can start contributing right away, and there are many opportunities to advance your career at your own pace. Join our global team of 19,000 people in 45 countries, and start helping our customers push the limits of what's possible in their world of motion.

Job Title:
Principal Design Engineer – Gearboxes and Transmissions

Location:

Wadsworth, OH (on-site)

Position Summary: As a Principal Design Engineer – Gearboxes and Transmissions at PT Tech, part of the Timken Company, you will develop custom designed solutions for the aggregate, marine, metal and steel, mining, wood waste recycling, and material processing industries. We are seeking an experienced gearbox and transmission design engineer to become the organization’s internal expert on gear systems design and development.

This hands‑on technical leader will drive concept‑to‑production development and mentor other engineers to raise the company’s capability in gear design and drivetrain systems development. On‑site presence in Wadsworth, OH is required with the potential for flexible work arrangements. Periodic customer and supplier visits expected.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development of transmissions, gearboxes, and gearing sub‑systems (spur, helical, bevel, planetary) from concept through production release, including detailed gear geometry and thermal processing requirements, shafts, bearing arrangements, housings, seals, and lubrication systems.
• Collaborate with application engineering and customers to understand operating duty cycles and translate requirements into detailed gearbox specifications.
• Perform and validate gear calculations: load capacity, AGMA or ISO gear design calculations, contact pattern analysis, bending and pitting / scuffing safety factors, and bearing life calculations.
• Develop tolerance stack‑ups, interference / clearance analyses, and fit / assembly procedures / tolerances ensuring robust function across manufacturing and service conditions.
• Define testing requirements and oversee gearbox test programs to validate durability performance, acceptable NVH, and thermal stability.
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to ensure designs meet requirements, are manufacturable, and are cost‑effective.
• Resolve production or field issues with structured 8D problem solving techniques and implementation of robust engineering changes.
• Serve as the internal gear design authority; create best‑practice standards, calculation templates, design guidelines, and training for engineering teams.
• Support of dry and wet friction clutches and brakes and related products.

Required Qualifications:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (or related) with 7+ years of hands‑on gearbox and gear design experience, MS in Mechanical Engineering (or related) with 5+ years experience, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Demonstrated proficiency in accepted gear design methods (AGMA or ISO standards), gear tooth strength / contact calculations, and bearing life calculations.
• Experience with tolerance stack‑ups, fits, assembly techniques, and GD&T.
• Proven experience developing and overseeing gearbox test plans and validation of drivetrain system performance.
• Strong CAD skills (CREO preferred; Solid Works, Inventor, or similar acceptable) and familiarity with PDM and PLM systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers and across internal teams through written and verbal mediums.
• Effective time management and prioritization skills.
• On‑site work in Wadsworth, OH required with the potential for flexible work arrangements.
• Estimated travel to customers or suppliers may be required approximately…