Lead Mechanical Design Engineer High-Speed Rotating Machinery

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

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.
  

• 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.
  

• 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.
  

• 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
  

• 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