Principal Mechanical Engineer

Introduction
iRobot is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer with strong expertise in product development and design for high volume manufacturing to join our R&D team. You will provide technical leadership and participate in the design of mechanical systems and subsystems for our state-of-the-art consumer robots.

In this position you will be a key part of the R&D Mechanical Engineering organization. You will work as part of a team of mechanical engineers in close collaboration with other engineering disciplines along with team members from partner organizations such as User Experience, Industrial Design, Product Marketing, Manufacturing Operations, and more, in an exciting, fast-paced environment. As a Principal Mechanical Engineer you will be expected to be a capable leader who can drive the team to success.

What You Will Do
Our teams thrive on technical challenges and relentlessly pursue excellence. You will help us push the boundaries of robot design in ways that will enable us to bring a great user experience to our customers and growth to our company. As a Principal Mechanical Engineer you will be part of a multi-disciplinary product development team and will enjoy a wide variety of roles and responsibilities. You must have expertise in product development for high volume manufacturing, use of plastics and commodity materials, engineering analysis, and global manufacturing.

You will work proactively and independently, leading and working with your team to develop well-engineered, reliable, ready to manufacture state-of-the-art consumer robots that fulfill our user's needs. This may include the design of ground-up new robotic platforms as well as improvements to existing platforms. You will be expected to play a strong role in setting technical direction for the organization.

Essential Functions/Job Duties

• Lead teams of varied engineering and technical backgrounds
• Analyze, research, and resolve multi-variate and tightly constrained technical issues
• Create clever, practical solutions using robust engineering practices
• Identify, manage, communicate, and mitigate technical risks
• Drive improvements to new or existing product platforms in the areas of design efficiency, DFM/DFA, reliability
• Investigate production line issues or fielded product issues to determine root cause and to implement solutions
• Generate mechanical layouts and detailed part designs using 3-D CAD and analysis tools
• Verify and validate design solutions utilizing rapid prototyping and conventional prototyping methodologies and a solid understanding of system test
• Integrate seamlessly across business disciplines: systems engineering, system test, operations, quality, product management, industrial design, and product marketing throughout product life cycle
• Present to engineering and business leadership
• Provide critical feedback in detailed mechanical and mechanism design, product definition, systems test and data analysis
• Translate product requirements into mechanical system/subsystem specifications and performance metrics
• Use analysis tools including DFMEA, spreadsheets, FEA, and other simulation tools to predict design margins
• Utilize statistical tolerance analysis to ensure proper fit and function
• Lead cross-functional design reviews
• Manage the details of transition to manufacturing including resolution of first article inspections, tool approvals, and assembly issues

To Be Successful You Will Have
Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering preferred)
• 8 years minimum experience in product development of mechanical systems
• Strong 3D CAD capability, preferably using PTC Creo
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication and prioritization skills
• Expertise in design for Manufacturability, Assembly, Serviceability, Recyclability
• Expertise in material selection, especially with plastics
• Experience in design mock-up and rapid prototyping methods, such as Objet, 3D printing, FDM, machine shop usage
• Expertise in design verification and validation, including test data analysis
• Expertise in structured problem-solving methods
• Expertise in small mechanism design – using motors, gears, bearings, wheels, linkages, etc.

• Experience in three out of the following

• Consumer product design experience

• Fluid flow design – fans, pumps, tubes, CFD methods
• Optics, light piping, light sensors and infrared light management
• Sensor systems, including rotational encoders, sonar, inertial, laser, vision
• Battery-powered portable vacuum cleaning systems
• Statistics, including Six Sigma, reliability engineering, DOE, comparison testing, Cp, Cpk

In Return You Can Expect
iRobot is a highly technical environment that moves extremely fast, and the Mechanical Engineering team is a critical part of the engine that drives us forward. The ME teams are highly integrated with our partners in organizations that span engineering disciplines and a wide variety of functions from marketing to manufacturing. Bring your experience and high potential, and you are sure to learn and grow iRobot has a wonderful culture that supports growth, fast progress, technical excellence, and a strong sense of community, which makes for a fun and rewarding experience every day

About Us
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We are the leading global consumer robot company, designing and building robots that empower people to do more, both inside and outside of the home. To date, we have sold over 25 million robots and globally employ more than 1,000 of the robot industry's best and brightest. iRobot is committed to fostering invention, discovery and technological exploration in the pursuit of practical and valuable robot products for the home.

iRobot is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts with offices in California, Europe, Japan, China & Hong Kong. Imagine the future you could help us build as a fellow iRoboteer.
iRobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer.