Component Engineer

Equiliem; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Equiliem seeks a Component Engineer to support the performance, reliability, and production readiness of mechanical components used in data center power equipment, including UPS, PDU, and STS products. You will evaluate quality, supplier capabilities, and manufacturing feasibility while collaborating with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Production teams.

Lead make-versus-buy analyses and support outsourcing decisions; frequent travel to supplier sites up to 30–40% is required to evaluate

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering or component engineering.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal, copper, plastic, and aluminum manufacturing.
• Experience evaluating and qualifying mechanical component manufacturers.
• Ability to review component designs with suppliers for manufacturability and cost improvements.
• Willingness to travel 30–40% to supplier locations.
• Experience with SAP and Windchill PLM systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate component quality, reliability, and performance through testing and supplier collaboration.
• Assess manufacturing feasibility and estimate component manufacturing costs.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Production, and suppliers to qualify components.
• Review supplier change notifications and end-of-life notices and recommend actions.
• Lead make-versus-buy analyses and outsourcing decisions.
• Maintain component data management systems and technical documentation.
• Support component lifecycle management and production readiness across product portfolio.
• Travel to supplier locations to evaluate capabilities and processes.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Component engineering

Supplier evaluation

Cost analysis

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

High school diploma or associate degree with experience

Tools

SAP

Windchill PLM

Job description

The Component Engineer supports the performance, reliability, and production readiness of mechanical components used in data center power equipment, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDU), and static transfer switches (STS). This role evaluates component quality, manufacturing feasibility, supplier capabilities, and cost effectiveness while ensuring compliance with technical specifications and quality standards. The engineer collaborates with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Production, and suppliers to qualify components, resolve manufacturing issues, optimize designs, and support sourcing decisions.

Job Responsibilities

• Evaluate the quality, reliability, compatibility, and performance of mechanical components through testing, technical analysis, and supplier collaboration.
• Assess manufacturing feasibility, estimate component manufacturing costs, and analyze supplier capabilities and production capacity.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes for sheet metal, copper, plastic, aluminum, and other mechanical materials.
• Collaborate with suppliers to optimize component designs for manufacturability, tooling, production processes, and cost efficiency.
• Develop guidelines and procedures for component selection, qualification, and maintenance.
• Review supplier change notifications and end-of-life (EOL) notices and recommend appropriate actions.
• Maintain component data management systems, including qualification records, test results, and technical documentation.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Production teams to ensure suppliers meet technical, quality, cost, and delivery requirements.
• Investigate and resolve component manufacturing issues and identify alternative suppliers when necessary.
• Lead make-versus-buy analyses and support decisions related to outsourcing and external processing.
• Analyze material cost breakdowns and compare component pricing against market values.
• Support component lifecycle management and maintain production readiness across the active product portfolio.
• Travel to supplier and vendor locations as needed to evaluate capabilities, processes, and production readiness.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in Manufacturing Engineering, component engineering, tool development, or a related technical field.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for mechanical components, particularly sheet metal, copper, plastic, and aluminum.
• Experience evaluating and qualifying mechanical component manufacturers and suppliers.
• Ability to review component designs with suppliers and recommend improvements for manufacturability, tooling, production processes, and cost.
• Ability to assess supplier capabilities, manufacturing capacity, and production readiness.
• Experience collaborating with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Production, and external suppliers to meet technical requirements.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate material cost breakdowns and supplier pricing.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements, assess manufacturing feasibility, and resolve component-related issues.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 30–40% to supplier and vendor locations.
• Experience with SAP and/or Windchill Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems preferred.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Candidates with a high school diploma or associate degree may be considered if they have sufficient relevant experience and technical knowledge.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting data center power equipment, including UPS, PDU, or STS products.
• Experience with component lifecycle management, supplier change management, and end-of-life component planning.
• Experience conducting make-versus-buy analyses and supplier cost assessments.
• Familiarity with SAP and Windchill PLM systems.