Our client is looking for a high-caliber Lead Mechanical Engineer to spearhead a critical project for a major telecommunications client. This is a “player-coach” role where you will manage a small, agile team (one staff engineer and one contractor) while remaining deeply technical and hands-on with CAD. This full-time position is based in Milpitas, CA.
The ideal candidate has a sophisticated understanding of data center infrastructure and networking hardware. You’ve spent time in the trenches designing the rugged, high-precision enclosures that power the world’s communication networks, and you’re ready to take ownership of a project from concept through execution.
What You’ll Do
- Technical Leadership: Head up the mechanical efforts for a dedicated Telecom project, overseeing a small team of two engineers (1 FTE, 1 Contractor) to ensure design excellence and milestone delivery.
- Hands-on Design: Use CAD (SolidWorks/Creo) to design complex sheet metal assemblies, racks, panels, servers, and chassis.
- Architecture & Integration: Develop robust mechanical architectures for telecommunications equipment, ensuring thermal management, EMI shielding, and structural integrity.
- DFM/DFA: Apply deep knowledge of manufacturing processes (stamping, CNC, injection molding) to optimize designs for high-volume production.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Act as the primary technical point of contact for the client, translating high-level requirements into actionable engineering specs.
Who You Are
- An Experienced Leader: You have a proven track record of leading small engineering teams and managing project timelines without losing your technical edge.
- Telecom/Networking Expert: You have significant experience with networking hardware (think Cisco-style rack-mount equipment, blades, and high-density enclosures).
- CAD Power User: You are expert-level in 3D CAD, specifically for sheet metal and complex assembly management.
- Material Master: You understand the nuances of designing for racks, panels, and server chassis, including airflow and cable management.
- Milpitas-Based: You are comfortable working onsite in Milpitas to collaborate directly with the team and hardware.
Requirements
- BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in mechanical design, with at least 2 years in a lead or principal capacity.
- Deep experience in the Telecommunications or Data Center hardware space.
- Advanced proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred).
- Expertise in sheet metal design, enclosure design, and thermal packaging.