Senior Mechanical Engineer

New Wave Design is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the design, analysis, testing, and qualification of rugged-embedded computing products, including VPX, XMC, and QMC Form Factors, in addition to custom ruggedized systems. This includes responsibility for thermal engineering, materials selection, environmental testing, and production readiness. The Mechanical Engineer will work closely with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and Product Management to ensure mechanical and thermal solutions meet customer, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.

$ - $

Please know that the salary information is a general guideline only. NWD considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities for the position, candidates' work experience, education/training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

• Innovate and develop high‑end mechanical and thermal solutions for cutting‑edge embedded electronic products, including heat frames, heat sinks, wedge locks, heat spreaders, heat pipes, and faceplates.
• Enclosure and conduction‑cooled designs.
• Mechanical integration of connectors, optics, and fiber routing.
• Perform thermal analysis and modeling to support design decisions.
• Balance performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability in mechanical designs.
• PCB layout, footprint, and library management.

• Design and execute thermal and mechanical test plans.
• Support environmental and qualification testing (e.g., thermal cycling, vibration, shock).
• Correlate simulation results with physical test data.
• Identify root causes of mechanical or thermal issues and recommend corrective actions.

• Select materials based on thermal, mechanical, environmental, and reliability requirements.
• Evaluate mechanical stress, CTE mismatch, and long‑term durability.
• Support reliability and lifecycle considerations for deployed products.

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to ensure designs are production‑ready.
• Support first‑article builds, ESS setup, and yield improvement efforts.
• Assist with documentation needed for production, qualification, and audits.

• Collaborate with Electrical Engineering on layout‑driven mechanical and thermal constraints.
• Work with CAD to ensure accurate models and drawings.
• Interface with customers, vendors, and suppliers on mechanical and thermal topics as needed.

• Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, including STEP models, vendor and assembly instructions.
• Effectively communicate complex technical concepts to stakeholders, including non‑technical audiences.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience with mechanical and thermal design of electronic systems.
• Knowledge of heat transfer principles and structural mechanics.
• Hands‑on experience with thermal or environmental testing.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (Solid Works or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience with VPX, OpenVPX, XMC, QMC, or similar embedded form factors.
• Familiarity with defense, aerospace, or industrial electronics environments.
• Experience supporting qualification to customer or industry standards (e.g., MIL‑STD‑810).
• Experience with thermal simulation tools.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers or assembly partners.
• Opportunity to work on high‑end thermal management solution for SAWP‑C military application.

• Proven ability to complete complex thermal and mechanical projects on time and budget.
• Mentor junior engineers.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and a proactive, innovative mindset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface with internal teams, customers, and stakeholders.

• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds.
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds over the head.
• Must have finger and wrist dexterity with…