Sr. Electro-Mechanical Instrumentation Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health workshops

Finance workshops

Off-site social events

Museum discounts

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA seeks an experienced Hardware Instrumentation Engineer to develop high‑precision inertial instruments for guidance applications. You will own design, development, integration and production, working with a cross‑functional team of engineers and physicists.

Requires hands‑on experience in sensor development, electro‑mechanical design, control electronics, and system integration; MEMS knowledge and optical sensing are valued. U.S.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering; advanced degrees preferred.
• Experience in hardware instrument engineering or related fields is required (5–10 years).
• Strong understanding of sensor design, electro‑mechanical concepts, control electronics, and system integration.

Responsibilities

• Drive solutions to complex problems to design and develop precision instruments.
• Mentor less experienced Hardware Instrument engineers.
• Design experiments and precision instruments to validate concepts.
• Collaborate with engineers to develop prototype and production hardware.
• Integrate precision instruments into larger systems meeting performance metrics.
• Draft and present technical documents and testing results.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Mentoring

Written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

MATLAB

CAD software

FEA software

Job description

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

As Draper continues to grow we’re hiring experienced engineers with expertise in sensor and instrumentation technology to support programs from early concept development through manufacturing and deployment. As a Hardware Instrumentation Engineer you will play a critical role in the design, development, integration, and production of high-precision inertial instruments for advanced guidance applications. You will work closely with cross-functional teams of engineers and physicists to develop next-generation gyroscopes, accelerometers, and guidance-aiding sensors, building and characterizing prototypes, developing production rollout strategies, and ultimately delivering production hardened instruments that meet some of the world’s most stringent performance and reliability requirements. This role spans the full product lifecycle and are seeking someone with hands‑on technical experience across sensor development, electro‑mechanical and solid‑state device design, control systems, sensor readout electronics, mechanical design, and system integration. Experience with MEMS or solid‑state sensor technologies, precision instrumentation, and performance characterization is highly valued. Knowledge of optical displacement sensing technologies is a plus.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Drive solutions to complex problems with limited direction to design and develop precision instruments.
• Actively mentor less experienced Hardware Instrument engineers.
• Designs experiments, and experimental precision instruments to prove which design concepts are viable and optimal.
• Collaborates with other engineers to design and develop prototype and production hardware to meet the application needs.
• Collaborates with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, delivering on performance metrics.
• Develops initial processes for the fabrication of custom designed instruments.
• Drafts and presents formal technical documents, reports, and testing results to manager for approval.
• Provides training related to devices to employees, sub-contractors and/or customers.
• Performs independent research when needed for solving problems.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills / Abilities

• Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
• Understanding of the processes used in the fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
• Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer-aided design (CAD) software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to your discipline.

Education

Requires a bachelors degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering required; Masters or PhD degree preferred.

Experience

Requires 5-10 years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and developing electro-mechanical or electromagnetic instrumentation systems
• Working knowledge of control system electronics and mechanical design principles; FEA experience preferred
• Exposure to optical displacement sensing technologies is desirable
• Demonstrated experience with novel or emerging technologies that advance fabrication, assembly, miniaturization, or system integration
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment
• Interest in mentoring students and junior engineers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven track record of technical leadership, creativity, and inventiveness

Additional Requirements

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location

City: Cambridge
State: Massachusetts
Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

Our US base salary range for this full-time position is $62,500.00 - $245,000.00. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role.

Benefits

• Workplace flexibility
• Employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga
• Health and finance workshops
• Off site social events
• Discounts to local museums and cultural activities

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.

To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

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