Senior Design Engineer (Mechanical CAD)

Location: Research Triangle Park, NC, United States. Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Company

Manufactures American rare-earth permanent magnets for defense, aerospace, automotive, and other critical industries.

What you will do

• Design reactor parts, refractory geometry, cathodes, lids, replacement components, powder-metal feed-system parts, tooling, fixtures, and equipment modifications for R&D and pilot projects.
• Create parametric 3D models and assemblies, checking fits, interference, clearances, installation access, and maintenance access.
• Incorporate material compatibility, thermal expansion, electrical isolation, and cooling requirements into reviewed designs.
• Design for machining, welding, assembly, inspection, serviceability, available materials, tolerances, and shop constraints.
• Measure existing equipment and reverse-engineer worn or undocumented parts; collaborate with machinists, welders, suppliers, technicians, and engineers to resolve build issues and improve designs after testing.
• Produce fabrication-ready drawings, maintain bills of materials and revision-controlled CAD packages, manage spare-part documentation, and communicate priorities, lead times, and design changes.

Requirements

• Technical training in CAD, drafting, or mechanical design, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing mechanical parts and assemblies with SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar parametric CAD software.
• Hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, welding, equipment assembly, repair, or a similar trade.
• Ability to produce clear shop drawings and apply appropriate dimensions, tolerances, and fits.
• Ability to use measuring tools and translate physical parts and equipment into accurate CAD models.
• Understanding of manufacturing constraints and how design choices affect cost, lead time, and buildability.
• Ability to incorporate shop-floor feedback and work through design changes in a fast-moving R&D environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organized documentation, and clear communication with engineers, technicians, and suppliers.
• Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Nice to have

• Experience with high-temperature equipment, high-temperature materials selection, or metals processing equipment.
• Experience with powder handling, press feed systems, tooling, or precision-machined components.
• Experience with copper busbars or buspipes, cooled assemblies, weldments, or refractory components.
• Familiarity with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, CAD data management, or CAM workflows.
• Experience supporting pilot plants, prototype builds, or equipment commissioning.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in an R&D and pilot-facility environment focused on national security and economic resiliency.
• Collaborate directly with engineers, technicians, fabricators, machinists, welders, suppliers, and project teams.
• Operate in a fast-moving environment centered on Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Integrity.