Job Description:
Sunpower, based in Athens, OH, is looking for an early-career mechanical engineer. Under the direction of more senior engineering staff members, this position will support daily activities in spaceflight and aerospace production of Sunpower Stirling cryocoolers and engines. This involves participation from concept to delivered hardware and includes effort in design, procurement, fabrication, testing, and reporting.
POSITION PURPOSE
Under the direction of more senior engineering staff members, this position will support daily activities in spaceflight production, spaceflight testing and application engineering. This primarily involves supporting spaceflight cryocooler production processes, testing, tool design, test stand design and operation, test equipment selection and integration, troubleshooting and developing production processes, developing automated processes, and reporting. A portion of this position’s time may include similar duties in establishing aerospace engine production.
CORE DUTIES (Must do functions)
- Participate in Project Engineering and Program Management production planning to ensure on time delivery of spaceflight hardware.
- Work in a cross-functional team including Engineering, Manufacturing, Machine Shop, Procurement, and Quality Assurance
- Engage in continuous improvement efforts for spaceflight cryocooler production
- Research, select, and integrate test and lab equipment to support development and production.
- Define, develop and refine test methodology and manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with customer requirements
- Working with Drafting/Design in the creation of tooling and fixturing models and drawings, using proper application of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing
- Working with Sunpower Machine Shop, Purchasing and/or external vendors to procure components, test stand hardware, and test equipment to required specifications/accuracy
- Process development, documentation, and troubleshooting of production methods such as welding and brazing
- Report activities to team members and Aerospace Programs Manager
- Participate in technical discussions with existing and potential customers regarding product requirements
ROUTINE FUNCTIONS (Lower priority than core)
- Attend routine technical and programmatic meetings
- Continuously develop skills through education, observation and mentoring
- Provide input and documentation for communication with customers
- Engage in VAVE cost reduction efforts in a manufacturing setting
EDUCATION
- Minimum Bachelors of Science in ME, ISE, ETM or relevant Engineering field
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally in a cross-functional team
- Breadth of knowledge and ability to apply a range of engineering disciplines, including machine design, strengths of materials, machining processes, programming, process improvement, etc.
- Experience with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) a must
- Experience with engineering computational software such as Mathcad and/or Matlab preferred
- Ability to define problems, collect data, troubleshoot, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions (problem solving skills).
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and complete responsibilities in a timely manner
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and assignments in parallel
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and to reduce cost. The successful candidate must be able to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- This is an entry level position, however preference will be given to experience such as cooperative education and/or internships
- Experience with lab equipment such as data acquisition systems, oscilloscopes, power supplies, cooling systems, vacuum pumps, etc
- Experience with tooling design and fabrication is preferred
- Experience programming in LabView test environments and automation is preferred
We are looking for a well-rounded graduate that has demonstrated a high level of achievement and initiative throughout college. Candidates must be self-motivated and driven to complete tasks efficiently and at a high level of quality. Ambition demonstrated by cooperative education, internships or other informal work experience is valued. This position offers the opportunity to experience a wide variety of engineering disciplines. The engineering staff is lean and agile and can be asked to take on any type of technical task in support of R&D, Cryocooler Production, and/or Spaceflight production.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use fingers or hands to manipulate objects; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.
ABOUT SUNPOWER:
Since our founding in 1974, Sunpower has been the world leader in free-piston Stirling technology. Sunpower has implemented free-piston technology in our commercial line of CryoTel cryocoolers and our aerospace Stirling cryocoolers and Stirling engines. Sunpower’s Engineering services include production of spaceflight cryocoolers and design, development, and fabrication of prototype free-piston Stirling machines. Sunpower’s has strong ties to the local community including a long history of connections and collaboration with Ohio University. Our founder and the inventor of our technology is a former OHIO professor, and ~25% of our current staff are OHIO graduates. Including graduates from Hocking College and local high schools, more than half of our staff can be traced to the Southeast Ohio community. Learn more about us at www.sunpowerinc.com.
