Principal Animatronics Engineer — Systems & Show Design

LF Studios / LifeFormations; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeFormations in Cincinnati is seeking a full-time Engineer to lead mechanical design and integration for animated figures and show‑action equipment. You will guide a team through design, analysis, procurement, assembly, testing, and installation, with emphasis on safety and reliability.

The role requires hands‑on troubleshooting, hardware analysis, and leadership across a multi‑discipline team, using SolidWorks and DFMs to meet client specifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related technical fields.
• 9 years of mechanical design and analysis experience, including 4 years of animatronic design within the themed entertainment industry.
• 3 years of technical and functional leadership experience.
• Leadership experience through a design/build project, fostering positive team morale while delivering a complete product.
• Hands-on troubleshooting and problem-solving skills for complex problems.
• Experience with FFMEA, hazard analysis, DFM, RBDs, and FEA.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering for a portfolio of employees, vendors, projects, and customers; serve as primary engineering contact for customer conversations and concerns.
• Own and lead a team or design vendors through animated figure development lifecycle (design, analysis, procurement, QC, assembly, testing, installation).
• Develop senior engineers to own projects with oversight.
• Audit internal mechanical and shell designs for best practices and reliability.
• Use SolidWorks to design animated figures with DFM considerations.
• Coordinate engineering with digital modeling, controls, and fabrication teams.
• Perform hand calculations, bearing calculations, RBDs, and FEA on animated figures; QC analyses.
• Review drawing packages and approve parts for production.
• Lead design workshops and reviews.
• Present design and fabrication work to customers.
• Troubleshoot assembly and performance issues on the production floor.
• Create mechanical and armature documentation throughout projects.

Skills

Mechanical design

FEA

RBDs

Hand calculations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

LifeFormations in Cincinnati is seeking a full-time Engineer to lead mechanical design and integration for animated figures and show‑action equipment. You will guide a team through design, analysis, procurement, assembly, testing, and installation, with emphasis on safety and reliability.

The role requires hands‑on troubleshooting, hardware analysis, and leadership across a multi‑discipline team, using SolidWorks and DFMs to meet client specifications.