The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Principal Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfX) Engineer

Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
  • 10-15 years of experience in Product Engineering or related roles
  • Hands-on experience in microelectronics packaging for high-reliability or aerospace applications
  • Familiarity with MIL-STD-883, MIL-PRF-38534, and MIL-PRF-38535 standards
  • Experience in AS9100 environments is a plus

Responsibilities

  • Create product concepts using Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs
  • Gather necessary materials and resources for product design
  • Test products for usability and safety
  • Oversee manufacturing and production processes to establish standards
  • Independently drive solutions to complex, unclear customer requirements
  • Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Product Engineering
  • Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies

Benefits

  • Workplace flexibility programs
  • Employee clubs and social events
  • Health and finance workshops
  • Discounts to local museums and cultural activities
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary:
Join Draper's multidisciplinary engineering team as a Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFX) Engineer, where your expertise in device packaging techniques for conventional over-molded electronic parts, multi-chip modules, open / closed MEMs devices and sealed ceramic packages will directly contribute to the success of mission-critical systems in aerospace, defense, and beyond.

In this role, you'll work closely with layout and design engineers, supply chain, and internal manufacturing teams to apply DFM/DFA best practices early in the product development cycle, ensuring a smooth transition from design to production. You'll review packaging layouts and designs for manufacturability, lead design reviews, and deliver actionable feedback that drives product integrity and performance.

As a Principal Engineer, you'll engage with internal service centers and external contract manufacturers to resolve assembly, and workmanship challenges. You'll also collaborate with Mission Assurance to support quality investigations and continuous improvement initiatives.

We're looking for an engineer with hands-on experience in microelectronics packaging for high-reliability or aerospace applications, someone who understands the nuances of material selection, MIL-STD-883, MIL-PRF-38534 and MIL-PRF-38535. Familiarity with AS9100 environments and a passion for cross-functional problem-solving are key to success in this role.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
• Use Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs to create product concepts.
• Gather materials or resources needed to design the product.
• Test the product for usability and safety.
• Oversee the manufacturing and production process to set standards.
• Independently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Product Engineering.
• Provide insight and suggest design or process modifications based on quantitative data or results.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers; Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals.

Skills/Abilities
• Curiosity-driven approach to solving complex, customer-driven problems as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and openly with multi-disciplinary program team members, program leadership, and non-technical personnel.
• Be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to balance multiple competing tasks and demands.

Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or other relevant field.

Experience
10-15 years experience in Product Engineering or related.

Additional Job Description:
Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location - City:
Cambridge

Job Location - State:
Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:


The US base salary range for this full-time position is
$95,000.00 - $245,000.00
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

About The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Draper Laboratory is an American non-profit research and development organization, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts; its official name is The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. The laboratory specializes in the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy. The laboratory was founded in 1932 by Charles Stark Draper at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop aeronautical instrumentation, and came to be called the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. During this period the laboratory is best known for developing the Apollo Guidance Computer, the first silicon integrated circuit based computer. It was renamed for its founder in 1970, and separated from MIT in 1973 to become an independent, non-profit organization. The expertise of the laboratory staff includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software systems; modeling and simulation; and microelectromechanical systems and multichip module technology.
Learn more about The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

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