Senior Mechanical Engineer

VIAVI Solutions; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

VIAVI Solutions is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Fiber Optic product development team. You will lead mechanical design and development of complex optical test, inspection, and measurement systems used in lab, manufacturing, and field environments.

Work with international, multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions from concept through production release, applying DFM/DFA, and driving best practices across engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Significant experience in mechanical product design and development.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D MCAD.
• Experience performing tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience performing thermal simulation.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T.
• Experience creating manufacturing drawings and supporting production release.
• Familiarity with prototype development including 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
• Understanding of the complete product development lifecycle from concept to launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and development of optical test equipment and systems.
• Collaborate with optical and electrical engineers to integrate systems and assemblies.
• Design, build, and evaluate prototypes; conduct mechanical testing and validation.
• Create sheet metal enclosures, CNC‑machined components, EMI shielding, cables, and fixtures.
• Apply DFM and DFA to optimize cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Create and maintain engineering docs: 3D models, drawings, BOMs, test plans, and verification reports.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.

Skills

SolidWorks

Tolerance Analysis

Thermal Simulation

GD&T

Manufacturing Drawings

3D Printing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

3D CAD

Job description

Summary

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.

We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between. VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company – to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Fiber Optic product development team. In this role, you will lead the mechanical design and development of complex product, including advanced optical test, inspection, and measurement products used in laboratory, manufacturing, and field environments.

You will work within an international, multidisciplinary engineering team, collaborating closely with optical, electrical, manufacturing, and product engineering groups to develop innovative solutions from concept through production release.

Duties & Responsibilities

Design & Development

• Lead the mechanical design and development of optical test equipment and systems.
• Develop innovative solutions for fiber optic connectors, optical inspection products, and measurement systems.
• Design components and subsystems from concept through production release.

System Integration

• Collaborate closely with optical and electrical engineers to integrate optical systems, electronics, and mechanical assemblies.
• Ensure robust system-level performance through effective cross-functional design.

Prototyping & Validation

• Design, build, and evaluate prototypes.
• Conduct mechanical testing and verification activities to ensure designs meet functional, reliability, and performance requirements.
• Support product qualification and validation activities.

Product Engineering

• Design sheet metal enclosures, CNC‑machined components, EMI shielding, custom cables, labels, PCB assemblies, and mechanical fixtures.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles to optimize cost, quality, and manufacturability.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Drive engineering best practices and standardization initiatives.

Documentation

• Create and maintain engineering documentation including:
  • 3D CAD models
  • Engineering drawings
  • Bills of Materials (BOMs)
  • Test plans and procedures
  • Design verification reports

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D, manufacturing, sourcing, quality, and product management teams to ensure successful product delivery.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Significant experience in mechanical product design and development.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (or equivalent 3D MCAD software).
• Experience performing tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Experience performing thermal simulation
• Strong knowledge of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing).
• Experience creating manufacturing drawings and supporting production release.
• Familiarity with prototype development, including 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
• Understanding of the complete product development lifecycle from concept to launch.

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing optical, test, instrumentation, or electronic products.
• Experience with sheet metal design, CNC machining, molded parts, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Basic understanding of structural analysis and simulation tools.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and cost optimization techniques.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Leadership Expectations

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering team members.
• Influence technical decisions across functional teams.
• Contribute to strategic product and technology roadmaps.
• Drive high standards of engineering excellence and continuous improvement.

VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer – minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.