Mission-Critical Cable Harness & Interconnect Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Employee clubs

Discounts to local museums

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA seeks an experienced Cable Harness and Interconnect Design Engineer to develop rugged interconnects for high‑reliability systems used in defense, space, and autonomous platforms. You will join a collaborative mechanical design team from concept through prototyping, testing, and final delivery.

You will apply MIL-STD connectors and IPC standards, collaborate with cross‑functional engineers, perform trade studies, create detailed CAD/ drawings, and support production with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 3-5 years of mechanical design experience; full lifecycle exposure.
• Ability to obtain/maintain government security clearance (Secret preferred).

Responsibilities

• Design and develop high-reliability cable harnesses, interconnects, and connector assemblies for ruggedized systems and harsh environments.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to define requirements and ensure cross-discipline compatibility.
• Apply MIL-STD connectors, IPC Class 2/3 standards, and related specs.
• Perform trade studies, tolerance analyses, and material selection to optimize reliability and performance.
• Create 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and manufacturing documentation.
• Support builds, validation, and supplier coordination; drive continuous improvement.

Skills

System-level mindset

Ownership of design

Interconnect design

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB

CAD software

Job description

Draper in Cambridge, MA seeks an experienced Cable Harness and Interconnect Design Engineer to develop rugged interconnects for high‑reliability systems used in defense, space, and autonomous platforms. You will join a collaborative mechanical design team from concept through prototyping, testing, and final delivery.

You will apply MIL-STD connectors and IPC standards, collaborate with cross‑functional engineers, perform trade studies, create detailed CAD/ drawings, and support production with