Brake Design Engineer I

Are you looking to jumpstart your design and engineering career where you can use ingenuity and know-how to design and build new technology to support the foundation of the sphere brake industry?

Do you thrive in fast-paced, fluid work environments where you aren’t micro-managed but are given autonomy over your responsibilities?

Do you like the idea of working independently and in a small team environment, where you have greater responsibility for your technical projects and where your work directly influences the safety and well-being of other people at home and abroad?

If this sounds like you, this could be the perfect opportunity for your career!

Sphere Brake Defense, Inc. (SBD) is a veteran-owned small business based in Erie, PA. Our patented technology leverages inherent design to outperform disc and drum brake systems in a much smaller package, unlocking rich new opportunities for government and civilian use in multiple industries.

Our Vision 2030 is to advance the world to the simplicity of spherical brakes through integrity and innovation.

Our mission is to execute Vision 2030 creating processes that nurture our people to create powerful, safe spherical brakes.

Our promise is to deliver simple solutions for our customers on time, every time. SBD values and Do-BEST Ethos are the tenets of business conduct.

1)    Integrity

2)    Respect

3)    Duty

4)    Confidentiality

5)    Selfless Service

1)    Do less and obsess.

2)    Be honest and true.

3)    Empathize with all stakeholders.

4)    Set superior standards, receive superior results.

5)    Trust but verify.

SBD seeks a self-motivated and driven Mechanical or Automotive Engineer to join our growing team. This position reports to the Director of Research & Development and will be responsible for developing fail-safe functional requirements for each component and subassembly, integrating the functions into a target vehicle, and validating the product relative to technical requirements, cost, and time constraints. The Engineer also assists in selecting materials and identifying design and productivity improvement opportunities for existing product lines. Calculating and documenting design parameters, project timelines, and technical data, and ensuring production procedures efficiently utilize materials, methods, and personnel are other duties performed by this Engineer. The Engineer is also charged with establishing, implementing, and validating reliable test procedures for quality assurance of finished products and developing procedural documents for both internal use and end users.

This is an on-site position at our company’s headquarters in Erie. PA. Occasional day and overnight travel are required, and there is also some international travel required. Having a valid driver’s license and providing your own transportation to local/regional work sites to meet with prospective/current accounts or to participate in other business events is required. Must also be able to travel by standard carrier air and/or train for prospect/customer site visits and to participate in industry tradeshows and other events.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or a green card holder. This company does not sponsor work visas.

Day to day work includes but not limited to:

• Performing CAD for modeling, simulation, and 3D printing for development and design.
• Working with Director of R&D on test validation planning and execution.
• Participating in on-site and off-site brake and vehicle testing.
• Directing friction material development, prototype & testing, including dyno, vehicle, and 3rd party testing. Select appropriate materials for each brake application.
• Preparing (M)SDS sheets for all friction products.
• Maintaining all friction formulation and process records and intellectual property necessary for compliance with corporate policy and customs Duty Compliance policy
• Monitoring the friction level of each formula produced (sold) by SBD for variability over time and between sites (trending)
• Developing design control procedures for new product lines.
• Participating in lean work outs for optimizing production lines and manufacturing processes.
• Entering data on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis as required for accurate test data reporting and analysis.
• Participating in meetings for project status updates and reporting.
• Participating in government reviews and audit processes as required.
• Performing clerical administrative tasks per project as required and other duties as assigned.

Job Entry minimum requirements:

• Minimally requires a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related engineering or science discipline.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (Solidworks).
• Proficiency in using mechanical and structural analysis software (Solidworks FEA, Ansys, etc.).
• Understanding of fluid dynamics, pneumatics, and hydraulics.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.)
• Background   checks (criminal/education/employment/reference/credit/DMV) may be performed; results must be satisfactory to the company.
• If hired, adhere to all company policies and procedures and other prescribed best practices/industry standards.

When we look at inviting someone new to join our team, these are a few things that matter most:

• A BIG Plus: 2 years of internship and/or work experience in vehicle brake engineering or related field work in engineering
• Understanding of conventional and/or digital fabrication and production techniques (CNC machining, 3D printing, laser cutting, welding, foundry, etc.)
• Awareness of DOT, CMVSA, FMVSS, and SAE
• Experience with braking system design and/or systems performance design
• Strong attention to detail

Other Considerations:

The job is primarily performed indoors in a traditional office setting; The individual is constantly required to talk, hear, stand, or sit for extended periods of time while using a computer, telephone, or other productivity devices to communicate with other personnel and conduct business. While performing the duties of this job, the individual is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. In this role, frequent use of hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects and computer keyboards is required. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch or crawl, squat, turn/twist, and smell. The employee must frequently lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds and/or occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 75 pounds.

This job also requires the individual to be physically present in a light industrial, temperature-controlled manufacturing area to communicate with other individuals and conduct business. Noise levels in each area can vary, and specific workspace restrictions are possible.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, the ability to adjust focus, and the ability to identify deviations and differences from an established tolerance or standard and adjust focus between objects, materials, colors, and textures; use of magnifying devices may be required. Manual/finger/hand dexterity and sufficient physical (hand/arm/shoulder) strength are required to operate precision machinery and hand tools such as regulators, gauges, micrometric calipers etc.

Frequent sitting, standing, moving forward/back/side-to-side, and working around machinery and moving parts are required; exposure to electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, chemicals, oils, sealants, solvents, and other compounds is possible.

Site conditions will dictate the use of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include eye, hearing, and respiratory protection, protective smock, steel toe shoes, gloves, hard hats, or face shields. Contact lenses may not be allowed in some areas.

Sphere Brake Defense, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

The Company reserves the right to alter, change, modify, and/or terminate this job posting at any time without notice, or obligation. No recruiters, please; principal applicants only.