Mechanical Engineer

BCforward is currently seeking a highly motivated Mechanical Testing Engineer for remote opportunity

Position Title: Mechanical Testing Engineer

Location: Redmond, WA

Anticipated Start Date: ASAP

Please note this is the target date and it is subject to change. BCforward will send official notice ahead of a confirmed start date.

Expected Duration: 12 months, possible extension based on business needs

Job Type: Onsite

Pay Range: $60/hr. - $63/hr.

Please note that actual compensation may vary within this range due to factors such as location, experience, and job responsibilities, and does not encompass additional non-standard compensation (e.g., benefits, paid time off, per diem, etc.).

Job Summary:

• We are seeking a detail-oriented and self-motivated Mechanical Testing Engineer to join our dynamic team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the execution, development, and optimization of innovative mechanical testing and failure analysis methods for novel single-crystal optical materials. These materials are transformative for next-generation AR/VR applications, and your work will be critical to ensuring their reliability and performance. You will join an agile, cross-functional team focused on incubating winning prototypes and establishing new process capabilities with our supply-chain partners. This role is hands-on, involving laboratory work, deep data analysis, and collaboration with experts across various engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and document experiments for the mechanical characterization and failure analysis of novel single-crystal optical materials.
• Handle, prepare, and process material samples, including slicing, dicing, lapping, and chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP), while adhering to all laboratory safety protocols.
• Conduct a range of mechanical tests, including but not limited to fracture toughness testing, flexural strength testing, and biaxial flexure testing.
• Perform comprehensive root cause failure analysis on tested components, utilizing fractography with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to identify failure origins and mechanisms.
• Develop and validate novel testing methodologies and fixtures tailored to the unique geometries and properties of our advanced optical materials.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret complex test data; prepare detailed reports and present findings and recommendations to cross-functional engineering and research teams.
• Collaborate closely with materials scientists, optical engineers, and manufacturing partners to correlate mechanical properties with material processing and performance, driving continuous material and process improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 4 years of hands-on experience in the mechanical characterization of brittle materials (e.g., ceramics, glasses, single crystals).
• Experience with advanced material processing techniques such as diamond wire sawing, lapping, bonding/de-bonding, and chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) or similar processing techniques.
• Demonstrated expertise in fracture mechanics principles and testing, including the experimental determination of stress intensity factors.
• Hands-on experience with material, crystallography, and surface science or similar characterization techniques, especially using SEM for fractography.
• Good understanding of mechanical design principles for custom test fixture design.
• Proven ability to design and execute experiments (DOE), analyze results, and draw actionable conclusions.
• Excellent data handling, documentation, and organization skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to a diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline with a background in process development or material reliability.
• Familiarity with optical metrology and refractive index measurements (e.g., prism coupler).
• Proficiency in statistical data analysis and its application to brittle materials, including a strong understanding of Weibull statistics.
• Experience with laboratory automation and data acquisition using software such as LabVIEW, Python, or MATLAB.
• A fundamental understanding of crystallography and the anisotropic mechanical behavior of single-crystal materials.

Benefits:

BCforward offers all eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to major medical, HSA, dental, vision, employer-provided group life, voluntary life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and 401k.

About BCforward:

Founded in 1998 on the idea that industry leaders needed a professional service, and workforce management expert, to fuel the development and execution of core business and technology strategies, BCforward is a Black-owned firm providing unique solutions supporting value capture and digital product delivery needs for organizations around the world. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with an Offshore Development Center in Hyderabad, India, BCforward’s 6,000 consultants support more than 225 clients globally.