Lead Engineer - Product Design

Eaton; Rhode Island; On-site; USD 97,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton’s IS AER FED division seeks a Lead Engineer – Aerospace in Rumford, RI. You will lead R&D and new product development for seals and accumulator systems, coordinating across global teams and interfacing with customers, vendors, and test labs. The role emphasizes design reviews, documentation, and technical leadership.

Relocation within the United States is provided. The position includes a salary range of $97,000 to $143,000 plus eligibility for a variable incentive program, with salaries

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven (7) years progressive experience in engineering, product development and qualifications.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
• This position requires access to export‑controlled information and U.S. person status per government regulations.

Responsibilities

• Present product design at PDR and CDR forums, manage customer requirements, coordinate design and qualification tasks.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to meet capabilities and cost targets.
• Ensure design and analytical standards are met as directed by the Chief Engineering Staff.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and document design processes and lessons learned.
• Lead improvement teams using data-driven problem solving and process capability analyses.
• Develop product solutions that meet customer requirements, cost targets, and schedule commitments.
• Prepare technical proposals and NRE estimates for new opportunities.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Pro/E or similar modeling environment

Ansys or similar FEA software

Job description

Eaton’s IS AER FED division is currently seeking a Lead Engineer – Aerospace. This position will be located at our Rumford, RI facility. Relocation benefits will be provided within the United States only.

As a member of the Product Design Group, the Lead Engineer is responsible for leading research and development projects, as well as new product development projects at the major repeater level or below for dynamic sealing and accumulator applications. The Lead Engineer is responsible for performing and managing multiple phases of product design, analysis and validation, starting from VOC (voice of customer) or customer’s preliminary specifications, to final customer approval and full rate production; including requirements and boundary conditions negotiation, product line extensions, failure analysis, product validation, prototype coordination, and follow up of project status.

This position is responsible for leading complex projects within the seals and accumulator global team. The lead engineer coordinates technical work within the global team across multiple sites within the business. Projects typically include frequent customer technical communication covering design integration, technical proposal presentation, reverse engineering, analysis, report writing, planning and managing of component testing. The Lead Engineer will develop, maintain and promote constructive and favorable relationships with current and prospective customers, vendors, peers and other team members. Additionally, the Lead Engineer may support aftermarket business through PMA, DER, SAR, and Manual repair development.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $97,000 - $143,000 a year. This position is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What You’ll Do

• Present product design at PDR (Preliminary Design Review) and CDR (Critical Design Review) forum (including customer reviews), manage customer requirements, coordinate project related design and qualification tasks assigned to peers, COE’s and test labs. Conduct technical reviews with leadership and senior leadership.
• Collaborate with the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Teams and suppliers to develop designs that will meet manufacturing capabilities and cost targets.
• Ensure design and analytical standards are met as directed by the Chief Engineering Staff.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers. Document design processes/practices, check lists, lessons learned and experience data.
• Lead improvement teams using a data driven approach leveraging advanced problem‑solving tools, including development and evaluation of process capability, process control plans, analysis of out‑of‑control conditions and process audits, supporting the review of customer returned units, identification of problems and implementing corrective actions.
• Innovate to develop product solutions to meet customer requirements, cost targets and schedule commitments.
• Prepare technical proposals and non‑recurring cost estimates (NRE) for new business opportunities.
• Develop, maintain, and promote constructive and favorable relationships with current and prospective customers, suppliers, peers and other team members.

Qualifications

Required (Basic) Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven (7) years progressive experience in engineering, product development and qualifications.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship, now or in the future.
• This position requires access to export‑controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must be a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Experience with Pro/E or similar modeling environment.
• Experience with Ansys or similar FEA software.
• Aerospace design experience (Aircraft Engine mechanical systems design experience).
• Experience with Hydrodynamic seal design and analysis.
• Experience with Maintenance free bellows accumulator design.

Additional Information

• Proficient knowledge in fluid mechanics.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment.
• Proven ability to lead aerospace development projects and deliver on commitments.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a lab and production environment requiring the use of safety equipment (safety glasses, safety shoes, and hearing protection).
• Familiarity with Product Data Management (PDM) systems for documentation control and workflow management.
• Lead international design teams for new product development.
• Knowledgeable in applying GD&T in accordance with ANSI Y 14.5, dimensional stack‑ups, etc.
• Understanding of manufacturing process including (but not limited to) turning, milling, grinding, lapping, and all other processes associated with manufacturing mechanical seals.
• Working knowledge of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), Six Sigma methodology, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), tolerance allocation and lean manufacturing methods.
• Detailed knowledge of engineering design and product reliability concepts as to facilitate analysis of product line designs.
• Thorough understanding of problem‑solving methodologies used in determining root cause and formulating corrective action(s) - i.e. thought maps, 8D, root cause analysis, Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis, Gage R & R, control charts, Pareto charts, etc.
• Knowledge of industry and customer specific quality processes (i.e., ISO9001, AS9100 etc).
• Knowledge of product and end user application/specifications, including product testing requirements.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second‑chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws. You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After a conditional offer and a background check, if Eaton is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability‑related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1‑800‑836‑6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview.