Sr Mechanical Engineer 1

Promega•Madison, WI

10h

About The Position

You will contribute across all phases of instrument development, owning subsystems or sub-projects while growing toward leading designs from concept to release. You will present design and technical tradeoffs clearly to cross-functional stakeholders and leverage AI-enabled tools to enhance analysis and efficiency. Success is defined by sound judgment, appropriate escalation, and strong collaboration with internal and external partners. JOB OBJECTIVE: Act as an expert in the design, development, and testing of high-performance bioanalytical instrumentation, leveraging AI-assisted design tools and computational partners as integral collaborators in the engineering workflow. Apply engineering leadership towards individual R&D Projects, executing and championing innovative development through human-AI co-creation methodologies. Join an active team bringing innovation to life at a company committed to mindfulness and continued personal and professional growth, and thoughtful integration of emerging intelligence technologies.

Requirements

B.S. degree in mechanical engineering or related field and 10 years of relevant experience.
High level of proficiency using 3D CAD software for component and assembly design. Demonstrated ability to create high-quality specification drawings.
Knowledge of production technologies such as CNC machining, sheet metal, rapid prototyping, and plastic injection molding. Demonstrated ability to tailor designs to manufacturing process.
Excellent conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proven ability to balance multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize tasks in alignment with leadership goals, and meet deadlines.
Ability to review and understand high level project goals and requirements and translate them into engineering requirements. Ability to coordinate efforts of multiple people on complex projects.
Ability to serve as a mentor or subject matter expert for others.
Experience working with external customers, vendors, or collaborators.
Proven track record to work both independently and as a team member.
Demonstrated comfort using AI-assisted engineering tools (e.g., generative design, AI-powered simulation, natural language CAD interfaces) or strong willingness to develop these capabilities rapidly.
Ability to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, distinguishing promising innovations from artifacts requiring human correction.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing bioanalytical instruments, multimode detection instruments, and/or medical devices.
SolidWorks CAD software experience is strongly preferred. Proficiency in other CAD software such as ProE or AutoCAD may be acceptable, but applicant will need to take training in SolidWorks immediately upon starting in this position.
Experience with SolidWorks PDM (or other PDM software).
Basic knowledge of electronics and optics, experience designing mechanical interfaces with electrical and optical components.
Experience developing products in a highly regulated environment such as ISO 13485 and/or CFR 820.
Some experience with external regulatory standards such as UL, CE, IEC, RoHS.
Experience using generative AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, or domain-specific engineering AI) for design exploration, documentation, or problem-solving.
Familiarity with AI-augmented simulation or generative design platforms (e.g., Autodesk Fusion 360 generative design, nTop, or similar).
Track record of exploring and adopting emerging technologies before they become standard practice.

Responsibilities

Work closely with a cross-functional team to achieve project deliverables. Collaborate with scientists, engineers, product management, industrial designers, and others to understand product needs and address those needs in designs.
Create robust economical component- and system-level hardware designs for instrumentation.
Use calculation tools, AI-assisted generative design platforms, and simulation software for mechanical design and optimization in the areas of heat transfer, motion control, stress-strain, manufacturing tolerances, and vibration. Critically evaluate AI-generated design alternatives and integrate promising outputs into design workflows. May collaborate with internal or external consultants for advanced simulation.
Use tools, design methods, and production approaches that are consistent with the most current technologies, including AI-powered design assistants, parametric optimization tools, and natural language interfaces for CAD/simulation. Remain current in technology through reading, training, trade shows, networking, and active experimentation with emerging AI engineering tools.
Perform hands-on work with mechanical components and systems. Personally perform construction and test of prototypes, and/or supervise others doing this work. Balance hands-on prototyping with AI-accelerated design iteration, knowing when to leverage computational exploration versus physical testing.
Work with Operations to select vendors and procure prototype materials.
Use analytical and troubleshooting skills – augmented by AI-driven diagnostic tools and pattern recognition – to address instrumentation systems issues. Conduct root cause failure analysis to improve instrument performance and reliability. Perform detailed technical analyses and create test and analysis reports.
Provide clear organized documentation of design, development, and testing. Prepare and present work at design reviews.
Create drawings for component manufacture and quality inspection. Review and approve drawings drafted by others.
Coordinate transfer of designs to production, create Bills of Materials, assembly instructions, and help production with complex mechanical problems.
Ensure that designs meet applicable regulatory requirements (CE, UL, IEC, RoHS, etc.).
Collaborate with team members from different cultures in different time zones.
Actively collaborate with AI systems as co-creative engineering partners by formulating effective prompts, critically evaluating outputs, and iterating human–machine workflows to accelerate innovation and extend creative and analytical capabilities, while maintaining clear human accountability for engineering decisions.
Demonstrate inclusion through your own words and actions and accountability for a safe workspace. Act with kindness, curiosity, and respect for others.
Embrace and be open to incorporating Promega’s 6 Emotional & Social Intelligence (ESI) core principles in daily work.
Understand and comply with ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements applicable to our business.