Lead Mechanical Design Engineer – High-Speed Rotating Machinery

Sapphire Technologies; Cypress (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation

Paid sick time

Job summary

Sapphire Technologies seeks a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to drive development and production launch of high-speed rotating machinery with active magnetic bearings and advanced power electronics. You will lead a small team, coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain, and guide technical decisions for data-center and energy applications.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, mechanical architecture, validation, and ramping production over several years.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience developing turbomachinery, compressors, motors, or similar electromechanical products from design through validation.
• Strong knowledge of high-speed rotating equipment, rotor dynamics, bearings, seals, vibration, and GD&T.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable CAD software and engineering analysis tools.
• Experience with DFM, DFMEA, product qualification, root-cause analysis, and multi-disciplinary system integration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decisions and develop other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary mechanical technical authority for high-speed rotating machinery.
• Own mechanical architecture, interfaces, trade studies, and major design decisions.
• Lead design and analysis of rotors, shafts, impellers, housings, bearings, seals.
• Lead design reviews, DFMEA, validation planning, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions.
• Ensure timely release of CAD models, drawings, specifications, analyses, and BOMs.
• Partner with manufacturing and suppliers to develop robust, scalable designs.
• Mentor engineers and designers while establishing engineering practices and accountability.

Skills

Mechanical design

Turbomachinery

Rotor dynamics

SolidWorks

DFMEA

Leadership

System integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Masters in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

About Us

Sapphire Technologies delivers power and cooling to energy infrastructure. Our FreeSpin ® In-line Turboexpander recovers the energy wasted when high-pressure gas is stepped down, converting it into clean electricity and low-temperature cooling. To better serve our customers in the data center industry, we are now expanding our high-speed turbomachinery offerings into oil-free compressors for chilling applications.

Our hands-on engineering team takes products from concept to field deployment, with work spanning rotating machinery, power electronics, controls, and systems integration.

We are a mission-driven organization with one common goal: building a more sustainable world. Our employees are our biggest asset, and we are looking for change agents to join us on our journey.

Position Summary

Sapphire Technologies is seeking a Lead Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the development and production launch of advanced high-speed rotating machinery incorporating active magnetic bearings, high-speed electric machines, power electronics, and precision mechanical systems. The role will support a major new product platform serving rapidly growing energy and thermal-management applications, including data-center infrastructure. The program is progressing from product development into validation and will require a significant production ramp over the next several years. This is a hands-on technical leadership role with responsibility for mechanical architecture, system integration, validation, and production readiness. The successful candidate will lead a small team of engineers and designers while working closely with electrical, controls, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program-management teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary mechanical technical authority for high-speed rotating machinery products.
• Own mechanical architecture, system interfaces, technical trade studies, and major design decisions.
• Lead the design and analysis of rotors, shafts, impellers, housings, bearing systems, seals, cooling systems, pressure-containing components, and supporting structures.
• Lead design reviews, DFMEA, validation planning, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions.
• Ensure timely release of accurate CAD models, drawings, specifications, analyses, and bills of material.
• Partner with manufacturing and suppliers to develop robust, cost-effective, and scalable designs.
• Mentor engineers and designers while establishing strong engineering practices and accountability.

Base Pay Range

The information below is a general guideline. Actual compensation depends on the candidate’s experience and qualifications, as well as market and business factors.

Salary range: $129,458 - $175,150

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• 8+ years of experience developing turbomachinery, compressors, motors, generators, refrigeration equipment, or similar electromechanical products from design through validation.
• Strong knowledge of high-speed rotating equipment, rotor dynamics, bearings, seals, vibration, thermal management, tolerance analysis, and GD&T.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable CAD software and engineering analysis tools.
• Experience with DFM, DFMEA, product qualification, root-cause analysis, and multidisciplinary system integration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decisions and develop other engineers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• Experience with:
  • Active magnetic-bearing systems and/or high-speed permanent-magnet machines
  • Thermal-management or refrigeration systems
  • ASME, API, UL, CE, or related product standards
• Experience with Manufacturing scale-up and supplier development

Work Environment

This role is primarily on-site and involves work in office, manufacturing, equipment-installation, and test environments. Appropriate personal protective equipment and adherence to site safety requirements are required. Some activities may require coordination outside normal operating hours. Travel to suppliers, manufacturing partners, or other company locations may be required.

Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Eligible team members receive paid vacation, paid sick time, comprehensive health benefits, and participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with company match.

Additional Information

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow other instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor. Management reserves the right to change, rescind, add, or delete the duties and responsibilities of positions within this job classification at any time.

Sapphire Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, and benefits.