Senior Design Engineer

Vulcan Elements Inc.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vulcan Elements Inc. is seeking a CAD Designer to own new designs for parts and equipment in our R&D and pilot facility, from initial measurements and concepts through fabrication drawings and as-built documentation.

You will use SolidWorks or Fusion 360 to turn evolving process needs into buildable parts and assemblies. The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical design skills with hands-on machining, welding or similar experience, and collaborates with engineers, technicians and fabricators

Qualifications

• Technical training in CAD, drafting or mechanical design, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing mechanical parts and assemblies in SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or similar parametric CAD software.
• Hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, welding, equipment assembly, repair or a similar trade.
• Ability to produce clear shop drawings and apply appropriate dimensions, tolerances and fits.
• Ability to use measuring tools and translate physical parts and equipment into accurate CAD models.
• Understanding of manufacturing constraints and how design choices affect cost, lead time and buildability.
• Ability to incorporate feedback from the shop floor and work through design changes in a fast-moving R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Design reactor parts, refractory geometry, cathodes, lids, and replacement components for high-temperature molten-salt electrochemical cells.
• Develop powder-metal feed-system parts, including hoppers, feed chutes, interfaces and mechanisms.
• Add features to machined components and design tooling, fixtures and equipment modifications for R&D and pilot projects.
• Create parametric 3D models and assemblies; check fits, interference, clearances and access for installation and maintenance.
• Work with engineers to incorporate material compatibility, thermal expansion, electrical isolation and cooling requirements into reviewed designs.
• Design for available manufacturing methods and practical shop constraints, including machining access, tolerances, standard stock sizes and inspection requirements.
• Weld access, assembly sequence, fasteners and serviceability.
• Measure existing equipment and reverse-engineer worn or undocumented parts; verify critical dimensions before fabrication.
• Work directly with machinists, welders, suppliers and technicians to resolve build issues, check fit and improve designs after testing.
• Produce fabrication-ready drawings with dimensions, tolerances, materials, finishes and applicable weld details.
• Maintain bills of materials, part numbers, CAD files and revision-controlled drawing packages.
• Own spare-part drawings and update as-built records so replacement parts can be ordered and installed reliably.
• Support supplier quotations and review proposed manufacturing changes with the responsible engineer.
• Manage multiple design requests and communicate priorities, lead times and design changes to the project team.

Skills

Mechanical design

Hands-on machining

Welding

Fabrication

Engineering teamwork

Education

Technical CAD training or equivalent

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

3D modeling

Job description

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive, powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Integrity.

The CAD Designer owns new designs for parts and equipment in our R&D and pilot facility, from initial measurements and concepts through fabrication drawings, assembly and as-built documentation. This role uses SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or similar CAD software to turn evolving process needs into practical, buildable parts and assemblies. The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical design skills with hands-on machining, building, welding, repair or similar experience, and works closely with engineers, technicians and fabricators to make designs work in practice.

Responsibilities

Mechanical Design and Development

• Design reactor parts, refractory geometry, cathodes, lids, and replacement components for high-temperature molten-salt electrochemical cells.
• Develop powder-metal feed-system parts, including hoppers, feed chutes, interfaces and mechanisms.
• Add features to machined components and design tooling, fixtures and equipment modifications for R&D and pilot projects.
• Create parametric 3D models and assemblies; check fits, interference, clearances and access for installation and maintenance.
• Work with engineers to incorporate material compatibility, thermal expansion, electrical isolation and cooling requirements into reviewed designs.

Fabrication and Build Support

• Design for available manufacturing methods and practical shop constraints, including:
• Machining access, achievable tolerances, standard stock sizes and inspection requirements.
• Weld access, assembly sequence, fasteners and serviceability.
• Measure existing equipment and reverse-engineer worn or undocumented parts; verify critical dimensions before fabrication.
• Work directly with machinists, welders, suppliers and technicians to resolve build issues, check fit and improve designs after testing.

Drawings and Spare Parts

• Produce fabrication-ready drawings with dimensions, tolerances, materials, finishes and applicable weld details.
• Maintain bills of materials, part numbers, CAD files and revision-controlled drawing packages.
• Own spare-part drawings and update as-built records so replacement parts can be ordered and installed reliably.
• Support supplier quotations and review proposed manufacturing changes with the responsible engineer.
• Manage multiple design requests and communicate priorities, lead times and design changes to the project team.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Technical training in CAD, drafting or mechanical design, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing mechanical parts and assemblies in SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or similar parametric CAD software.
• Hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, welding, equipment assembly, repair or a similar trade.
• Ability to produce clear shop drawings and apply appropriate dimensions, tolerances and fits.
• Ability to use measuring tools and translate physical parts and equipment into accurate CAD models.
• Understanding of manufacturing constraints and how design choices affect cost, lead time and buildability.
• Ability to incorporate feedback from the shop floor and work through design changes in a fast-moving R&D environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organized documentation and clear communication with engineers, technicians and suppliers.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-temperature equipment, materials selection at high temperature, or metals processing equipment.
• Experience with powder handling, press feed systems, tooling or precision-machined components.
• Experience with copper busbars or buspipes, cooled assemblies, weldments or refractory components.
• Familiarity with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, CAD data management or CAM workflows.
• Experience supporting pilot plants, prototype builds or equipment commissioning.

This position requires access to information and technology that is subject to US Export Control. Vulcan Elements will use this information to determine if you are eligible to receive this information under US Law.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Vulcan Elements’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.