Senior R&D Mechanical Engineer

SharkNinja•Needham, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

SharkNinja is seeking a Senior R&D Mechanical Engineer to join the Ninja Coffee R&D Engineering team and lead the development, optimization, and validation of product system performance. This role focuses on understanding how complex electromechanical systems function, identifying performance drivers, and applying root cause and corrective action (RCCA) methodologies to improve product capability. The R&D team owns the core performance of our products, from front-end technology exploration through product development and mass production. This engineer will lead technical investigations, build prototypes, design experiments, analyze performance data, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver best-in-class product performance. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on system-level performance engineering, experimental testing, and problem solving in the lab. While not primarily CAD-focused, the role influences product architecture through design reviews, data-driven insights, and system-level engineering expertise.

Requirements

BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
5+ years of product development or system engineering experience
Proven experience solving complex engineering problems using structured analysis
Track record of delivering robust product performance improvements
Experience working with electromechanical systems and consumer products
Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication and engineering testing
Strong background in one or more of the following areas: Thermodynamics and heat transfer Fluid mechanics and pump systems Electromechanical systems Sensors, heaters, motors, and small appliance components System performance characterization Failure analysis and RCCA methodologies Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis Engineering test development Data analysis using Excel or similar tools Prototype fabrication and lab testing
Basic CAD proficiency

Nice To Haves

Strong ability to break down complex engineering problems into first principles
Expertise in system-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis
Hands-on engineer comfortable prototyping, building test setups, and working in a lab environment
Strong intuition for physics and engineering fundamentals
Ability to translate experimental results into engineering insight and product improvements
Comfortable working in fast-paced, iterative product development environments
Clear communicator capable of explaining complex technical concepts

Responsibilities

Lead system-level performance development for electromechanical consumer products, focusing on thermal, fluid, and mechanical systems
Identify key performance drivers and engineering tradeoffs to optimize product functionality, efficiency, and reliability
Translate performance targets into test plans, engineering models, and validation strategies
Drive root cause analysis (RCA/RCCA) for performance issues using structured problem-solving methods
Investigate system behavior through data analysis, failure analysis, and hypothesis-driven experimentation
Implement corrective actions and design improvements based on engineering findings
Design and execute engineering test plans, DOE experiments, and performance characterization
Build and modify functional prototypes and test rigs to validate theories and system behavior
Analyze experimental data using Excel, statistical tools, and engineering models
Develop engineering insights and performance models that inform product architecture
Partner with mechanical, electrical, firmware, and product teams to integrate technologies into new products
Participate in design reviews and architecture discussions to ensure performance requirements are achieved
Serve as the technical authority on system performance and engineering fundamentals
Lead technical performance workstreams across multiple projects
Mentor junior engineers and co-op students
Communicate engineering insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders