Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; California; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment seeks a Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer to join a cryogenic cooler and system integration team. You will create mechanical components from concept through assembly and system testing, including CNC‑machined parts, vacuum‑brazed assemblies, cryogenic turbo‑compressor designs, and heat exchangers.

The role emphasizes hands‑on design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly, with strong 3D CAD skills (NX or Onshape a plus) and collaboration with suppliers to support

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong 3D CAD skills; NX or Onshape experience preferred.
• Knowledge of 3D CAD and CAM.
• Understanding of metal production processes (CNC, 5-axis, sheet metal, 3D printing).
• Hands-on assembly or project execution experience.

Responsibilities

• Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings for cryogenic cooler components.
• Design CNC‑machined parts, vacuum‑brazed assemblies, and heat exchangers.
• Apply design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly principles.
• Collaborate with internal teams, suppliers, and machinists on fabrication and reviews.
• Support hands‑on assembly and testing of cryostat systems.

Skills

3D CAD

NX

Onshape

CAM

Design for Manufacturing

Hands-on assembly

Cryogenic systems

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

Onshape

Job description

Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer

Overview

We are seeking a Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer to join a cryogenic cooler and system integration team. In this role, you will create mechanical components from concept through assembly and system testing.

Components will include CNC‑machined parts, vacuum‑brazed assemblies, cryogenic turbo‑compressor designs, Joule‑Thomson counterflow heat exchangers for He-4 and He-3 cycles, and magnetic field generation and control structures.

The role requires strong 3D CAD capability, practical design‑for‑manufacture knowledge, and a hands‑on approach to building and testing cryostat systems.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings for cryogenic cooler and system integration components.

• Design CNC‑machined parts, vacuum‑brazed assemblies, cryogenic compressor components, heat exchangers, and magnetic field control structures.

• Apply design‑for‑manufacture and design‑for‑assembly principles, including machining processes, sheet metal fabrication, tolerances, and ease of assembly.

• Work with internal teams, suppliers, and machinists to support fabrication, design iteration, and manufacturability reviews.

• Support hands‑on assembly, integration, and testing of cryostat systems.

• Maintain design documentation, drawings, BOMs, and engineering change records.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.

• Good knowledge of 3D CAD tools; NX or Onshape experience is a plus.

• 3D CAD and CAM knowledge.

• Understanding of metal production processes, including:

  • CNC machining

  • 5‑axis machining

  • Dual‑spindle lathe processes

  • Sheet metal fabrication

  • 3D metal printing

• Understanding of engineering materials, including:

  • Copper

  • Stainless steel

  • Aluminium alloys

  • Carbon fibre

  • Glass fibre composites

• Basic understanding of adhesive bonding and brazing processes.

• Hands‑on assembly or project execution experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry experience, ideally in:

  • Aerospace

  • Semiconductor equipment

  • Cryogenic systems

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  • Scientific instrumentation

  • Precision mechanical engineering

• Cryogenic experience is a plus.