Senior Machine Design Lead – High-Speed Rotating Machinery

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

On-site fitness facilities

Flexible work hours

On-site cafeteria

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Machine Design Engineering Group Leader in Oak Ridge, TN. You will provide technical leadership for centrifuge machine design, coordinate with engineering staff, and drive design outputs while managing schedules and resources.

The role emphasizes high-speed rotating machinery expertise, precision design, and a path to Q clearance. Relocation and onsite work are included as part of ORNL's comprehensive benefits and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience in precision machine design.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams or projects.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals in a diverse cross‑functional community.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Q clearance which requires US Citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and guidance across centrifuge machine design activities.
• Implement design control practices within a graded‑approach, supporting both R&D and Deployment project scopes.
• Produce a high‑performance culture, where the content, complexity, and accuracy of design outputs are consistent with the request.
• Manage group assignments and deliver design outputs (requirements, drawings, specifications, calcs.) within communicated schedule guidance, while maintaining flexibility to support multiple tasks and adapt to ever‑changing needs.
• Be the technical leader and resource for group members when challenges arise.
• Clearly communicate expectations, providing visibility of what successful looks like for roles within the group.
• Ensure individual performance goals are set, progress evaluated, and timely feedback is provided.
• Cultivate and sustain advanced technical expertise in high‑speed rotating machinery and high‑vacuum systems, demonstrating subject matter proficiency in motor, magnet, and bearing technologies.
• Support a prototype environment which allows quick‑iteration and the ability to safely fail‑fast, while advancing concepts to defined acceptance criteria.
• Lead troubleshooting technical issues and drive actions to completion.
• Review design outputs with manufacturing and testing stakeholders to expedite downstream activities.
• Maintain design control through configuration management principles of design reviews, verification, and change control.
• Review analysis results and test data for targeted machine design advancements.
• Approve design drawings and specifications.
• Ensure acceptance criteria is defined and accurately translated.
• Maintain visibility of Design Change Requests and Production Order demands, ensuring work in process is adequately supported (for both internal and external fabrication shops).

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

US Citizenship & Q clearance

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks Professional

Job description

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking a Machine Design Engineering Group Leader in Oak Ridge, TN. You will provide technical leadership for centrifuge machine design, coordinate with engineering staff, and drive design outputs while managing schedules and resources.

The role emphasizes high-speed rotating machinery expertise, precision design, and a path to Q clearance. Relocation and onsite work are included as part of ORNL's comprehensive benefits and professional development opportunities.