Animatronic - Senior Mechanical Engineer

LF Studios; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company specializing in animatronics and interactive experiences is seeking a dedicated Engineer to join their team in Cincinnati. In this dynamic role, you will lead the design and development of animated figures, integrating mechanical and electrical systems while ensuring safety and reliability. You'll collaborate with various teams to produce high-quality designs that meet customer expectations. If you have a passion for engineering and a commitment to excellence, this position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to exciting projects in the themed entertainment industry.

Qualifications

• 5 years of mechanical design and analysis experience.
• 2 years of animatronic design experience in themed entertainment.
• Leadership experience in design/build projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team through the development of animated figures.
• Design using SolidWorks and coordinate with fabrication teams.
• Troubleshoot assembly and performance problems.

Skills

Mechanical Design

Problem-Solving

Leadership

SolidWorks

FMEA

FEA

DFM

Rigid Body Dynamics

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

LifeFormations specializes in the design and fabrication of animated figures (animatronics), sculpted elements, exhibits, and interactive experiences. Our work can be found in leading theme parks, museums, science centers, and branded spaces all over the world. We are seeking a full-time experienced Engineer with an uncompromising commitment to excellent work to join our growing team in Cincinnati, Ohio.

As a key part of the design team, you would be responsible for integrating mechanical design with the electrical and control systems of animated figures, mechanical effects, and show-action equipment. Building upon machine design best practices, customer specifications, and industry standards, you would create designs to meet or exceed customer expectations with safety and reliability at the forefront of what we produce.

In this role, you will:

• Own and lead a small team through the development of animated figures through the full lifecycle including design, analysis, procurement, quality control (QC), assembly, testing, and installation.
• Use SolidWorks to design animated figures using DFM (design for manufacturing).
• Coordinate and lead engineering effort with digital modeling, controls, and fabrication teams.
• Analyze the animated figures through hand calculations, bearing calculations, RBDs (Rigid Body Dynamic Simulations), and FEA (Finite Element Analysis). Perform quality control on other internally and externally performed analysis.
• Produce drawing packages following ASTM standards. Lead the team through the drawing creation process.
• Lead design workshops and reviews.
• Present company design and fabrication work to internal project teams and the customer.
• Troubleshoot assembly and performance problems on the production floor.
• Coordinate and lead effort to create and maintain all mechanical and armature documentation throughout the project.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related technical fields.
• 5 years of mechanical design and analysis experience. 2 years of animatronic design experience within the themed entertainment industry.
• Leadership experience through a design/build project. Experience in creating positive team morale while driving to a complete product.
• Ability to take initiative and give direction to a team.
• Hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. Ability to provide solutions to complex problems outside your comfort zone in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Experienced and skilled in the development, use, and maintenance of FMEAs (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis), HA (Hazard Analysis), DFM (Design for Manufacturing), RBDs (Rigid Body Dynamic Simulations), and FEA (Finite Element Analysis).