Principal Hardware Instrument Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory - Cambridge, MA

Full-time - Principal

Hybrid - Cambridge, MA

1,001-5,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

Draper is seeking a Principal Hardware Instrument Engineer to join our innovative team in Cambridge, MA. As an independent, nonprofit research and development company, Draper is dedicated to tackling significant national challenges through the delivery of successful and usable solutions. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work collaboratively in an environment that fosters the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. The Principal Hardware Instrument Engineer will play a crucial role in applying scientific analysis and experimental methods to design, develop, and evolve sensor instrument technology that meets the changing demands of our customers. This position involves overseeing the full lifecycle of instruments from concept through manufacturing, with a focus on precision instruments including Electro-mechanical, Electro-Optical, and MEMS sensor systems. In this role, you will be recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in precision instruments development, leveraging your knowledge and experience across multiple technical disciplines. You will assess customer needs and evaluate candidate precision instrument solutions to complex problems, leading development teams while providing both technical and management oversight. Identifying risks associated with precision instruments and developing effective mitigation strategies will be key responsibilities. You will analyze precision instrument requirements and develop appropriate technology architectures, design experiments and experimental hardware to validate design concepts, and collaborate with other engineers to create prototypes and production hardware that meet application needs. Additionally, you will work with various groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, ensuring that performance metrics are met. You will also be responsible for developing initial processes for the fabrication of custom-designed instruments, drafting and presenting formal technical documents, reports, and testing results, and providing training related to devices to employees, subcontractors, and customers. This position may also involve other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall success of Draper's mission.

Responsibilities

• Subject Matter Expert in precision instruments development, knowledgeable and experienced in multiple technical disciplines.
• Assess customer needs and evaluate candidate precision instruments solutions to complex problems.
• Lead precision instruments development teams, providing technical and management oversight.
• Identify precision instrument risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Analyze precision instruments requirements and develop appropriate technology architectures.
• Design experiments and experimental hardware to prove which design concepts are viable and optimal.
• Collaborate with other engineers to design and develop precision instrument prototypes and production hardware to meet application needs.
• Collaborate with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, delivering on performance metrics.
• Develop initial processes for the fabrication of custom designed instruments.
• Draft and present formal technical documents, reports, and testing results.
• Provide training related to devices to employees, sub-contractors and/or customers.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Requires a bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering; Masters or PhD degree preferred.
• Requires 10-15 years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
• Understanding of the processes used in the fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
• Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer-aided design (CAD) software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to your discipline.

Benefits

• Workplace flexibility
• Employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga
• Health and finance workshops
• Off-site social events
• Discounts to local museums and cultural activities