Mechanical Engineer

Amphenol Communications Solutions; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Amphenol Communications Solutions in Raleigh, NC, seeks a Mechanical Engineer focused on alignment mechanisms. You will design and develop connector alignment components, ensuring reliability even in misaligned applications, including guide pins, bearings, springs, and structural parts.

You will collaborate with sales, suppliers, and manufacturing, perform tolerance analyses, FEA, material evaluations, and participate in developing innovative manufacturing techniques and coatings to improve

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in mechanism design and kinematics.
• Proficiency with solid modeling tools and FEA; experience with mechanical simulations is a plus.
• Deep understanding of steel, aluminum and their finishes; bearings and guide pins knowledge.
• Effective communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in a dynamic team environment and willingness to innovate.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanisms for connector alignment, including pins, bearings, springs, and structural components.
• Integrate new technologies and cost-effective manufacturing methods into designs.
• Manage product documentation and specifications at component level.
• Act as customer technical liaison for mechanisms and alignment performance.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing to prototype and test misalignment tolerance.
• Oversee transition from NPI to volume manufacturing, including global interfaces.
• Support design via tolerance analysis, FEA, material evaluations and failure analysis.
• Lead material/bearing/coating benchmarking and new manufacturing techniques.
• Participate in design reviews and qualification of new mechanisms.
• Create test plans to simulate misalignment for NPI and validation.
• Identify cost, quality, and performance improvement initiatives.

Skills

Mechanism design

Kinematics

CAD Pro/E

FEA

Materials science

Bearings and pins

Communication

Teamwork

Innovation

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Solid modeling (Pro/E)

FEA software

Job description

Amphenol Communications Solutions (ACS), a division of Amphenol Corporation, is a world leader in interconnect solutions for Communications, Mobile, RF, Optics, and Commercial electronics markets. Amphenol Corporation is one of the world's largest designers and manufacturers of electrical, electronic and fiber optic connectors and interconnect systems, antennas, sensors and sensor-based products and coaxial and high-speed specialty cable. ACS has an expansive global presence in research and development, manufacturing, and sales. We design and manufacture a wide range of innovative connectors as well as cable assemblies for diverse applications including server, storage, data center, mobile, RF, networking, industrial, business equipment, and automotive.

Position: Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms Focus)

Amphenol High Speed Products Group is the market leader for high speed, high bandwidth electrical connectors for the Telecom/Datacom market (Mobile Networks, Storage, Servers, Routers, Switches, etc.). Our products help to enable the electronics revolution and remain a key enabler for all the major Tier 1 OEMs globally. Our team in Raleigh, NC is looking for a Mechanical Engineer. The Mechanical Engineer would be the technical expert specializing in the design and development of alignment mechanisms that ensure reliable connections in end use applications.

Location: Raleigh, NC

The Mechanical Engineer will provide technical expertise in the design, development, and manufacturing of connector mechanisms, with a focus on creating robust systems that guide connectors together even in misaligned customer applications. This role involves working with metal components including guide pins, bearings, springs, levers and other mechanical elements. In this cross-functional position, they will execute the technical aspects of the organization's strategic plans, serve as a technical liaison for sales and marketing teams, and provide guidance to engineers and support personnel.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanisms for connector alignment, including guide pins, bearings, springs and structural components made from steel and aluminum, ensuring reliability under misalignment conditions and performing failure analysis on defects from customer applications and manufacturing processes.
• Integrate new technologies, innovative manufacturing methods, and cost-effective initiatives into mechanism designs, supporting new product releases with a strong emphasis on material properties and surface finishes.
• Manage product-related documentation and specifications at the component level, including manufacturing processes and field performance, while maintaining the integrity of mechanism designs.
• Serve as the customer focal point for technical information on mechanisms, in-field applications, and guidance related to alignment performance and material durability.
• Collaborate with internal and external suppliers and manufacturing personnel to develop and validate mechanism prototypes through pilot production, interfacing with customers to test misalignment tolerance.
• Oversee the successful transition of mechanisms and processes from new product introduction (NPI) phase to volume manufacturing in low-cost regions, regularly interfacing with NPI and manufacturing engineering groups at global facilities.
• Provide technical assistance to drafters, designers, engineers, and support personnel to ensure accurate implementation of mechanism designs.
• Support the product design effort by conducting tolerance analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), material evaluations, and failure analysis specifically for mechanical mechanisms involving bearings, pins, and metallic components.
• Lead efforts in identifying new or alternative materials (e.g., advanced steels, aluminums, or coatings) and benchmarking them, while participating in the development of innovative manufacturing techniques for mechanism components.
• Actively collaborate with product designers on design reviews, component testing, qualification, and introduction of new mechanisms, including derivatives that address market demands for improved alignment and durability; participate in quality investigations to ensure mechanism specifications are met.
• Participate in fixture design and create/manage test plans to support the NPI process, with a focus on simulating misalignment scenarios and evaluating surface finish impacts.
• Identify and facilitate project initiatives such as cost improvements, quality enhancements, and performance benchmarking for connector mechanisms.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience in mechanism design and kinematics.
• Proficiency with solid modeling tools (e.g., Pro/E or similar) and FEA tools; experience with simulation software for mechanical systems is a plus.
• Deep understanding of materials, including steel, aluminum, and their surface finishes, as well as knowledge of bearings and guide pins.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working in a dynamic team environment.
• Desire to innovate in mechanism design for connector products and processes.
• Knowledge of copper alloys and high-performance engineering thermoplastics is a plus.
• Basic understanding of electrical connectors and their mechanical integration.

Amphenol Corporation is proud of our reputation as an excellent employer. Our focus is to provide the highest level of support and responsiveness to both our employees and our customers, the world's largest technology companies. Amphenol Corporation offers the opportunity for career growth within a global organization. We believe that Amphenol Corporation is unique in that every employee, regardless of his or her position, has the ability to positively impact the business.

Amphenol is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" - Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin. For additional company information please visit our website at https://www.amphenol-cs.com/