Exponent

Mechanical Engineer (Ph.D.)

Exponent$135K — $160K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline focused on mechatronics or robotics.
  • Formal coursework in machine design and control systems.
  • Familiarity with regulatory environments for product validation.
  • Experience in failure and fatigue analysis.
  • Strong skills in computational analysis tools (e.g., FEA, CFD).
  • Hands-on experience with electromechanical systems and software platforms like Arduino or LabVIEW.
  • Proficiency in mechanical design and CAD software.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze mechanical equipment failures and determine their causes.
  • Create and present detailed reports to clients of varying technical expertise.
  • Collaborate with diverse internal teams to address real-world mechanical issues.
  • Design and validate custom mechatronic test fixtures for reliability studies.
  • Interpret results from computational analyses for various stakeholders.
  • Assess reliability of robotic and automated systems related to physical AI.
  • Perform mechanical calculations and conduct field inspections.

Benefits

  • Competitive health and well-being programs.
  • Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.
  • Career growth opportunities through mentoring and sponsorship.
  • Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
  • Access to a variety of resources and programs for personal and professional development.
Full Job Description
Our Opportunity

We are currently seeking aMechanical Engineerfor ourMechanical EngineeringPractice in our Boston area office inNatick, MA. In this role, you will be responsible for analyzing a wide variety of mechanical and material failures, often by designing and building custom mechatronic test systems to replicate real-world incidents or assess long-term product reliability. Your work will support a diverse range of products, from consumer electronics and medical devices to emerging applications in robotics and physical AI. You will be expected to grow in the key aspects of consulting, including technical expertise and effective spoken and written communications, to develop a consulting practice serving clients both within and outside the firm.

You will be responsible for
  • Conducting hands-on analyses of mechanical equipment failures to understand what happened and the cause of the failure in collaboration with experts in other engineering disciplines
  • Creating written reports and presentations and presenting these communications to both technical and non-technical clients
  • Supporting an expansive internal client base that works collaboratively to solve complex, real-world problems associated with various types of mechanical equipment
  • Designing, building, and validating custom mechatronic test fixtures for incident recreation, durability, and reliability studies. This includes programming controllers, integrating sensors and actuators, and developing closed-loop control systems to produce robust, regulatory-grade data.
  • Interpreting and clearly communicating the results of complex computational analyses (e.g., FEA/CFD) to clients, legal teams, and regulatory bodies.
  • Applying mechanical engineering principles to assess the reliability and safety of robotic and automated systems, including those in physical AI workflows.
  • Performing calculations and analyses, creating written reports and presentations, and performing field inspections
You will have the following skills and qualifications
  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field, with an emphasis on mechatronics, robotics, physical AI, or control systems
  • Completion of formal coursework in machine design, mechanics of materials, and control systems
  • Familiarity with regulated environments (e.g., for medical devices or consumer products) and an understanding of the verification and validation required to generate regulatory-grade experimental data
  • Experience performing failure analysis and/or fatigue analysis
  • Strong aptitude for interpreting results from computational platforms (e.g., FEA, CFD) and a working knowledge of associated numerical analysis tools such as MATLAB or Python
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience designing and building electromechanical or mechatronic systems, including specifying components like motors and load cells and utilizing platforms like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or LabVIEW for data acquisition and control
  • Experience with engineering drawings and/or CAD
  • Experience with mechanical design
  • Hands-on work or research experience
  • Willing to work in new technical areas
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills
  • Ability to work within project teams
  • Potential for technical and project managerial leadership
  • Interest in developing a client base
  • Willingness to travel
  • Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].

Work Environment

At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and forbuilding a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities.

We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too. It is this flexible, agile work style and working hours that allow our teams to drive innovation and results in their own ways, while meeting the needs of clients. #LI-Onsite

Compensation

Our consultants are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Associate and Senior Associate level, total compensation includes base salary, bi-weekly bonuses for high-intensity efforts, annual bonus and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary.

The base salary range for this position is dependent on experience and capabilities which will be assessed during the interview process.

Salary RangeUSD $135,000.00 - USD $160,000.00 /Yr. Benefits you will enjoy

Access benefits information on our Life@Exponent page:

https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent

Job LocationsUS-MA-Natick

About Exponent

Exponent is a multi-disciplinary engineering and scientific consulting firm that brings together more than 90 different disciplines to solve engineering, science, regulatory, and business issues facing our clients. The company has been providing solutions to complex problems for more than 50 years and has a reputation for technical expertise, objective analysis, and clear communication. Exponent's services include analysis and testing, engineering and design, human factors, environmental and health sciences, and regulatory consulting. The company serves clients in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, energy, healthcare, and technology.
Learn more about Exponent
Size
1,215 employees
Market Cap
$5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$82.5 million
Founded
1967
5 Year Trend
+8.2%
Revenue
$399.9 million
NASDAQ

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