Principal Mechanical Engineer

Echodyne; Kirkland (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSU program

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

Echodyne is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical architecture for rapid radar prototypes, electronics packaging, and thermal solutions. You will guide a cross-disciplinary team, drive fast experiments, and ensure a practical path from early hardware to producible radar products.

You will collaborate with RF, electrical, PCB, systems, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable, high-performance radar hardware, with a strong emphasis on hands-on design and engineering

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field; 12+ years of hardware development.
• Export-controlled data eligibility (ITAR/EAR) in the U.S.
• Hands-on design across electronics, RF, and complex hardware.
• Heat paths, heat sinks, and CFD/FEA experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical development for prototypes, testbeds, and demonstrators.
• Develop electronics packaging, enclosure, radome, and mounting concepts.
• Design thermal solutions for RF assemblies and high-power electronics.
• Collaborate with RF, electrical, PCB, systems, and manufacturing teams.
• Create parts and fixtures with rapid machining and additive manufacturing.
• Establish DFM/ DFA practices and support prototype-to-product transition.
• Lead technical reviews and supplier engagement; assist in concept transfer.

Skills

Mechanical hardware design

CAD proficiency

Thermal management

RF/electronics packaging

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

DFM/DFA/tolerance

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

ANSYS (FEA/CFD)

Job description

Radar Reinvented. Echodyne offers the world's first compact solid-state true beam-steering radar for a wide range of industries and applications. Our high-performance radars work in all weather and are designed for autonomous vehicles, uncrewed aircraft & drones, and security of borders, critical infrastructure, and smart cities. The company combines the patented technology of metamaterials with powerful software to create a radar sensor with unprecedented performance at commercial price points. Echodyne offers its radars to companies working in Automotive, Transportation, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Border Security, Smart Cities, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Airspace Management including Urban Air Mobility (UTM).

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Advanced Technology Development

ROLE OVERVIEW

Echodyne is seeking a PrinIcipal Mechanical Engineer to join the Advanced Technology Development team and lead mechanical architecture and design for rapid radar prototypes, electronics packaging, thermal solutions, test infrastructure, and early system integration. You will join a high-performing, cross-disciplinary team where senior engineers have meaningful technical ownership, run fast experiments, and see their work move directly into future radar products. You will work on prototype development, including tiled-aperture integration, thermal management for high-power electronics, calibration infrastructure, and a packaged radar demonstrator for field learning. The ideal candidate combines hands-on mechanical design depth with sound technical judgement, fast prototype execution, and the discipline to preserve a practical path from early hardware to reliable, producible products.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead mechanical development for prototypes, testbeds, demonstrators, and future Advanced Technology Development efforts
• Develop electronics packaging, enclosure, radome, mounting, handling, and installation concepts for advanced radar hardware
• Design thermal solutions for RF assemblies, high-power electronics, compute hardware, and compact radar configurations
• Collaborate with RF, electrical, PCB design, systems, test engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and key stakeholders to deliver mission-critical prototype solutions within demanding performance and timeline goals
• Create parts, assemblies, fixtures, and integration hardware using rapid machining, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, and quick-turn supplier capabilities
• Apply modern best-practices and establish practical guidance for reliability, design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), tolerance control, and prototype-to-product transition
• Lead ad-hoc peer reviews, supplier engagement, hands-on assembly, test, troubleshooting, and aid in the transfer of mechanical concepts into product development

REQUIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE

• Strong hands-on experience designing mechanical hardware for electronics, embedded systems, RF systems, or other complex technical products across the development lifecycle
• Experience with electronics packaging, enclosure and radome design, thermal management, mounting structures, environmental protection, and prototype integration
• Advanced proficiency with a mechanical CAD platform such as SolidWorks, Creo, or NX, including production drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and configuration control
• Experience designing parts and assemblies for machining, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, and fast supplier builds
• Practical understanding of heat paths, heat sinks, airflow, conduction cooling, interface materials, and the thermal constraints of high-power electronics, including proficiency in FEA and CFD simulation software (such as ANSYS) to evaluate designs and solutions
• Ability to balance mechanical, electrical, RF, PCB, manufacturing, reliability, and field-use constraints with cross-disciplinary teams
• Ability to lead technical reviews, make sound design tradeoffs, and communicate mechanical risks and recommendations clearly

Desired Skills / Experience

(Looking for one or more as a complement to the core skills)

• Experience developing mechanical hardware for radar, phased arrays, aerospace, defense, autonomous systems, or other high-reliability and mission-critical products
• Experience in advanced development, applied research, rapid prototyping, or early hardware technology maturation
• Experience packaging RF electronics, tiled apertures, antennas, precision interconnects, high-power subsystems, or environmentally exposed electronics
• Experience applying design for manufacturing and assembly principles with machine shops, contract manufacturers, and production teams
• Experience with tolerance analysis, environmental testing, and design verification

QUALIFICATIONS

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field and at least 12 years of relevant mechanical hardware development experience, or equivalent experience
• Eligibility to handle export-controlled technical data, including ITAR- and EAR-controlled information

Echodyne's technology is export controlled by the U.S. Government and we must evaluate an applicant's eligibility to handle export-controlled information or obtain required Government authorizations. Therefore, we will ask you as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or green card holder, or have asylum/refugee status in the U.S.

WHAT WE OFFER

This is an exempt role.

The expected annual salary range for this role is

$149,659—$224,437 USD

If your skills generally align but not perfectly, please apply anyway. There may be another role that's a great fit for you!

We offer competitive compensation and benefits to our full-time, US-based employees, including:

• RSU (Restricted Stock Units)
• Generous Benefits:
  • Fully-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for you
    • Choice of PPO or HDHP/HSA
    • Virtual Care – 98Point6
    • Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health coverage through Springhealth & Talkspace (Premera)
• Travel Assistance Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability
• Flexible PTO (exempt) / 15 days per year (non-exempt)
• 401(k) match
• Pet Insurance
• Prepaid Legal Program
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Company Holidays

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected by law.