Principal Design Engineer

CIRCOR International, Inc.; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

CIRCOR International, Inc. in Tampa, FL is seeking a Principal Design Engineer to lead valve design initiatives, mentor designers, engineers and technicians, and drive manufacturability improvements across the business.

You will collaborate with Production, Sales, Quality, and Supply Chain to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions. The role requires deep expertise in GD&T, ASME standards, and 3D modeling (SolidWorks), with hands-on testing, validation, and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 12+ years of relevant experience and 8+ years in valve design.
• Knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Experience with ASME B16.5 & B16.34 and valve components.
• Strong communication and mentoring skills within cross-functional teams.
• Proficient in SolidWorks with hands-on design, analysis, and validation.
• Familiarity with FEA/CFD, basic heat transfer and stress analysis.

Responsibilities

• Review customer quotes and specs to confirm product offering or develop design concepts.
• Lead technical project teams, R&D, prototypes, and testing efforts.
• Provide guidance and training to designers and engineers.
• Act as technical lead/consultant on engineering projects.
• Lead continuous improvement activities and capability development.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and other departments to leverage expertise.
• Prepare and deliver training material for designers, engineers, Sales and customers.
• Mentor junior and peer design engineers.
• Develop and implement engineering capabilities and new services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

GD&T

DFM

Valve design

SolidWorks

ASME Y14.5

ASME B16.5/B16.34

Cross-functional teamwork

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Eng

Master's degree (plus)

Tools

SolidWorks

MathCAD

Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Valve design expert that requires interactions with the assigned designers, engineers, suppliers, and other applicable departmental assignees such as Production, Sales, and Quality, to solicit technical information as well as production capabilities to develop feasible design solutions. Provide expert training, consulting, and performs the work as needed in design, production support, test laboratory and related design validation.

The Principal Design Engineer participates in the design and evaluation of production processes for both new and existing products and systems to provide improvements in cost, performance or the facilitation of manufacturing processes using the fundamental principles of mechanical, electrical, industrial, and other engineering disciplines.

• Reviews customer quote requests and specifications to confirm the correct product offering or develop preliminary design concepts if needed, collaborating within Engineering and other functions.
• Develop proficiency in daily Engineering work at the Staff level, so can step in and do so as required.
• Key contributor to technical project teams and R&D, development, prototypes, and testing thereof.
• Collaborate with the team overall to provide guidance and training.
• Expertise in GD&T and Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Collaborate with other functional departments (Manufacturing, Quality, etc) to ensure all expertise is leveraged.
• Prepares and delivers training material to Designers, Design Engineers, Application Engineers, Sales and Customers as needed.
• Serve as a technical lead/consultant on engineering project teams.
• Generate and champion core skills and engineering tool roadmaps.
• Develop plans for and lead the implementation of engineering capabilities development, new services, and/or revised methodologies to support business growth.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Results oriented, with sound judgment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong, respectful, proactive communication with management on task or project progress, challenges, solutions, and requests for support. A mentor that others seek.
• Ability to effectively work in a cross-functional team
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and strategic skills
• Ability to manage changes during design phase and perform in an ambiguous, changing environment (e.g., significant business growth)
• Resourceful and well organized
• Valve Expertise in Industrial, Defense, or Aerospace applications with various actuation.
• Knowledge and application of GD&T (ASME Y14.5 - Working knowledge)
• ASME B16.5 & B16.34 - Working knowledge
• Microsoft Office - Strong with Excel and Word. Competent with PowerPoint.
• MathCAD or Equivalent Engineering Software Tool
• 3D Modeling (Solidworks)
• Stress Analysis - Linear (FEA and/or analytical)
• Seal Design - Working knowledge
• Fluid Mechanics - Flow Calculations, CFD basic
• Machine Elements in Mechanical Design - Strength of Materials, Processing, Finish, et cetera
• Heat Transfer
• Tolerance Analysis - Assemblies
• Technical Writing - Assembly and Test Procedures, Test Reports
• Compatibility - Lubricants, Service Media, Materials
• Casting and Forging
• Designing for weld
• Qualification Process and Testing
• Biased towards action

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, from an accredited university, with at least 12 years of relevant experience and 8+ years’ experience in the design of valves or valve components.
• Master’s degree in Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering is a plus.

Other

• May require up to 25% to travel

CIRCOR is an EEO Employer of Females / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

POSITION DETAILS

Position Summary

Valve design expert that requires interactions with the assigned designers, engineers, suppliers, and other applicable departmental assignees such as Production, Sales, and Quality, to solicit technical information as well as production capabilities to develop feasible design solutions. Provide expert training, consulting, and performs the work as needed in design, production support, test laboratory and related design validation.

The Principal Design Engineer participates in the design and evaluation of production processes for both new and existing products and systems to provide improvements in cost, performance or the facilitation of manufacturing processes using the fundamental principles of mechanical, electrical, industrial, and other engineering disciplines.

Principal Activities

• Reviews customer quote requests and specifications to confirm the correct product offering or develop preliminary design concepts if needed, collaborating within Engineering and other functions.
• Develop proficiency in daily Engineering work at the Staff level, so can step in and do so as required.
• Key contributor to technical project teams and R&D, development, prototypes, and testing thereof.
• Collaborate with the team overall to provide guidance and training.
• Expertise in GD&T and Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Collaborate with other functional departments (Manufacturing, Quality, etc) to ensure all expertise is leveraged.
• Prepares and delivers training material to Designers, Design Engineers, Application Engineers, Sales and Customers as needed.
• Serve as a technical lead/consultant on engineering project teams.
• Lead continuous improvement activities.
• Generate and champion core skills and engineering tool roadmaps.
• Develop plans for and lead the implementation of engineering capabilities development, new services, and/or revised methodologies to support business growth.
• Mentor junior and peer design engineers.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Results oriented, with sound judgment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong, respectful, proactive communication with management on task or project progress, challenges, solutions, and requests for support. A mentor that others seek.
• Ability to effectively work in a cross-functional team
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and strategic skills
• Ability to manage changes during design phase and perform in an ambiguous, changing environment (e.g., significant business growth)
• Resourceful and well organized
• Valve Expertise in Industrial, Defense, or Aerospace applications with various actuation.
• Knowledge and application of GD&T (ASME Y14.5 - Working knowledge)
• ASME B16.5 & B16.34 - Working knowledge
• Microsoft Office - Strong with Excel and Word. Competent with PowerPoint.
• MathCAD or Equivalent Engineering Software Tool
• 3D Modeling (Solidworks)
• Stress Analysis - Linear (FEA and/or analytical)
• Seal Design - Working knowledge
• Fluid Mechanics - Flow Calculations, CFD basic
• Structural Mechanics - Fastening Methods, Torque Design
• Machine Elements in Mechanical Design - Strength of Materials, Processing, Finish, et cetera
• Heat Transfer
• Tolerance Analysis - Assemblies
• Technical Writing - Assembly and Test Procedures, Test Reports
• Compatibility - Lubricants, Service Media, Materials
• Contamination Control - Familiarity
• Casting and Forging
• Designing for weld
• Qualification Process and Testing
• Biased towards action

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, from an accredited university, with at least 12 years of relevant experience and 8+ years’ experience in the design of valves or valve components.
• Master’s degree in Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering is a plus.

Other

• May require up to 25% to travel
• U.S. Citizen

CIRCOR is an EEO Employer of Females / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.