Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer

Equal1; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Equal1 is seeking a Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer/Designer to join its cryogenic cooler and system integration team. You will create mechanical components from concept through assembly and system testing, working with cryogenic coolers, vacuum-brazed assemblies, and magnetic field control structures.

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

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, 5-axis machining, dual-spindle lathe processes, sheet metal fabrication, and/or 3D metal printing.
• Understanding of engineering materials, including copper, stainless steel, aluminium alloys, carbon fibre, and glass fibre composites.
• Basic understanding of adhesive bonding and brazing processes.
• Hands-on assembly or project execution experience.

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 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.

Skills

3D CAD

Design for Manufacture

Hands-on testing

Cryogenic systems understanding

Copper, stainless steel, aluminium

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

Onshape

CAM knowledge

Job description

We are seeking a Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer to join Equal1’s 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 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.

Experience and Qualifications

Required

• 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, 5-axis machining, dual-spindle lathe processes, sheet metal fabrication, and/or 3D metal printing.
• Understanding of engineering materials, including copper, stainless steel, aluminium alloys, carbon fibre, and glass fibre composites.
• Basic understanding of adhesive bonding and brazing processes.
• Hands‑on assembly or project execution experience.

Preferred

• 2+ years of industry experience, ideally in aerospace, semiconductor equipment, cryogenic systems, scientific instrumentation, or precision mechanical engineering.
• Cryogenic experience is a plus.