Senior R&D Engineer, FEA & Innovation Lead

RBC Bearings; Simpsonville (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

RBC Bearings in Simpsonville, SC seeks a Senior Principal R&D Engineer specializing in FEA to lead multi-phase projects, mentor staff, and drive innovation across mechanical design and analysis. This role requires deep technical leadership and a proven track record in advanced analytics and product development.

The successful candidate will oversee complex evaluations, collaborate across manufacturing and quality teams, and stay abreast of state-of-the-art technologies to deliver customer value

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 20 years of engineering experience in the design, analysis, and development of mechanical products or systems.
• Significant experience performing and interpreting Finite Element Analysis (FEA); ANSYS preferred; Abaqus acceptable.
• Proven record of technical innovation demonstrated through patents or IP development.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization's principal technical expert for mechanical design, analysis, and engineering problem solving.
• Provide technical leadership across multiple product lines, development programs, and engineering disciplines.
• Mentor engineers at all levels, helping to elevate technical capabilities throughout the organization.
• Lead the resolution of the most challenging engineering and design issues.
• Drive innovation through the creation of new technologies, product concepts, and intellectual property.
• Conduct and oversee advanced analytical evaluations, including structural, thermal, fatigue, and nonlinear FEA studies.
• Establish engineering best practices, design methodologies, and analytical standards.
• Review and approve critical engineering analyses, designs, and technical recommendations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, quality, product management, testing, and research organizations to ensure successful product development.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, materials, analytical methods, and industry best practices.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Strong communication

Leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

RBC Bearings in Simpsonville, SC seeks a Senior Principal R&D Engineer specializing in FEA to lead multi-phase projects, mentor staff, and drive innovation across mechanical design and analysis. This role requires deep technical leadership and a proven track record in advanced analytics and product development.

The successful candidate will oversee complex evaluations, collaborate across manufacturing and quality teams, and stay abreast of state-of-the-art technologies to deliver customer value