Position Summary
Sapphire Technologies is seeking a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the development and production launch of advanced high-speed rotating machinery incorporating active magnetic bearings, high-speed electric machines, power electronics, and precision mechanical systems.
The role will support a major new product platform serving rapidly growing energy and thermal-management applications, including data-center infrastructure. The program is progressing from product development into validation and will require a significant production ramp over the next several years.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role with responsibility for mechanical architecture, system integration, validation, and production readiness. The successful candidate will lead a small team of engineers and designers while working closely with electrical, controls, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program-management teams.
Why Join Sapphire
Learning
Work at the intersection of high-speed rotating machinery, rotor dynamics, magnetic bearings, permanent-magnet machines, thermal management, precision manufacturing, and power electronics.
Impact
Own mechanical decisions that directly affect product performance, reliability, cost, manufacturability, and Sapphire’s ability to execute a major production scale-up supporting the growth of data-center infrastructure.
Becoming
Grow into a technical authority for high-speed magnetic-bearing systems, with opportunities to lead platform architecture, engineering teams, reliability initiatives, technology development, and future product programs.
Requirements
What Success Looks Like
First 90 Days
- Assume ownership of the mechanical architecture and critical system interfaces.
- Review the design, analyses, drawings, DFMEA, validation plan, and open technical issues.
- Identify and drive closure of the highest mechanical, rotor-dynamic, thermal, and manufacturing risks.
- Lead design reviews and support timely DFM and drawing-release milestones.
- Success means: The design direction is clear, critical risks have credible closure plans, and no unidentified mechanical issue that threaten the next scheduled build.
First 180 Days
- Lead mechanical readiness for production-intent builds.
- Support assembly, testing, and disposition of design, manufacturing, and supplier issues.
- Use inspection and test data to drive root-cause analysis and design improvements.
- Incorporate lessons learned into subsequent hardware and production documentation.
First Year
- Deliver a mechanically mature product ready for launch and production scale-up.
- Close or formally control major structural, rotor-dynamic, thermal, sealing, reliability, and manufacturability risks.
- Define critical-to-quality requirements for key components and assemblies.
- Establish mechanical design standards and strengthen the capabilities of the engineering team.
- Develop a product-improvement roadmap addressing performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability.
Core Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary mechanical technical authority for high-speed rotating machinery products.
- Own mechanical architecture, system interfaces, technical trade studies, and major design decisions.
- Lead the design and analysis of rotors, shafts, impellers, housings, bearing systems, seals, cooling systems, pressure-containing components, and supporting structures.
- Lead design reviews, DFMEA, validation planning, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions.
- Ensure timely release of accurate CAD models, drawings, specifications, analyses, and bills of material.
- Partner with manufacturing and suppliers to develop robust, cost-effective, and scalable designs.
- Mentor engineers and designers while establishing strong engineering practices and accountability.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline; master’s degree preferred.
- Eight or more years of experience developing turbomachinery, compressors, motors, generators, refrigeration equipment, or similar electromechanical products.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex products from design through validation and production.
- Strong knowledge of high-speed rotating equipment, rotor dynamics, bearings, seals, vibration, thermal management, tolerance analysis, and GD&T.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable CAD software and engineering analysis tools.
- Experience with DFM, DFMEA, product qualification, root-cause analysis, and multidisciplinary system integration.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical decisions and develop other engineers.
Preferred Experience
- Active magnetic-bearing systems
- Centrifugal compressors, turboexpanders, or other high-speed turbomachinery
- High-speed permanent-magnet machines
- Thermal-management or refrigeration systems
- Precision balancing and high-speed rotor assembly
- ASME, API, UL, CE, or related product standards
- Manufacturing scale-up and supplier development
Leadership Attributes
- Strong ownership and accountability
- Sound technical judgment
- Ability to balance technical rigor with schedule and business priorities
- Collaborative and decisive leadership
- Commitment to developing people and delivering reliable products
Benefits
We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Eligible team members receive paid vacation, paid sick time, comprehensive health benefits, and participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. This role is based in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where teamwork, reliability, safety, and attention to detail are essential to success.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned, by their supervisor. Management reserves the right to change, rescind, add or delete the duties and responsibilities of positions within this job classification at any time.
Sapphire Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation and benefits and also states that retaliation against any employee who files a complaint regarding possible violations of this policy will not be tolerated.