Mechanical Designer / Engineering Technologist – Robotics & Product Development

Mechanical Designer / Engineering Technologist – Robotics & Product Development

Valkim Technologies LLC – San Antonio, TX 78237
Full-Time | On-Site | $30–$38/hour, commensurate with experience

Mechanical Design: 4 years — Required

SolidWorks: 3 years — Preferred

Valkim Technologies develops robotic systems designed to perform inspection and monitoring tasks in hazardous and difficult-to-access industrial environments.

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Mechanical Designer / Engineering Technologist to support the mechanical development of our robotic platforms.

This is not an entry-level position and it is not a desk-only CAD role.

We need someone who can move comfortably between CAD, mechanical design, component selection, drawings, prototype assembly, testing and hands-on troubleshooting.

The right person will not simply model what someone else sketches. We want someone who understands how machines actually go together and can contribute practical mechanical design judgment throughout the development process.

What You Will Do

• Develop 3D CAD models and mechanical assemblies for robotic platforms and related equipment.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings and assembly documentation.
• Design mechanical systems incorporating components such as motors, gearboxes, shafts, bearings, wheels, tracks, fasteners, brackets and structural members.
• Support the design and integration of pneumatic components and systems.
• Select commercially available mechanical components based on load, torque, speed, size, weight and environmental requirements.
• Develop and maintain bills of materials (BOMs).
• Apply practical tolerancing and GD&T where appropriate.
• Design components with machining, fabrication, assembly and serviceability in mind.
• Participate directly in prototype assembly, modification and testing.
• Troubleshoot mechanical problems and recommend practical design changes.
• Work with machinists, fabricators, suppliers and other engineering personnel.
• Support testing and validation of new designs.
• Assist with continuous improvement of existing robotic platforms.
• Participate in occasional field testing, customer demonstrations and deployments.

What We Are Looking For

Required:

• 4+ years of professional mechanical design, machine design, product-development or closely related experience.
• Strong 3D CAD experience. SolidWorks is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing mechanical assemblies—not simply producing drawings from someone else's design.
• Practical understanding of mechanical components such as bearings, shafts, motors, gearboxes, fasteners and structural members.
• Understanding of manufacturing and fabrication processes.
• Experience creating production-ready drawings and BOMs.
• Ability to work hands-on with prototypes and mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot mechanical problems.
• Comfortable working in a small, fast-moving product-development environment.
• Ability to work primarily on-site at our San Antonio facility.

Highly Desirable

Experience in one or more of the following would be particularly valuable:

• Robotics or mobile equipment
• Custom machinery
• Industrial automation
• Pneumatic systems
• Motor and gearbox selection
• Machining and fabrication
• Welding or welded structures
• Sheet-metal design
• 3D printing/additive manufacturing
• Fixtures and tooling
• Aerospace or defense hardware
• Oil & gas or industrial equipment
• Heavy equipment
• Field-service engineering
• Harsh or hazardous-environment equipment
• Design-for-manufacturing (DFM)
• Design-for-assembly (DFA)
• GD&T and tolerance analysis

Education

An associate's or bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline is preferred.

However, we recognize that some of the best mechanical designers develop their expertise through years of practical experience.

Substantial relevant mechanical design and hands-on equipment experience may be considered in lieu of a specific engineering degree.

This Position May Be a Good Fit If You…

• Enjoy seeing something you designed actually get built.
• Naturally walk into the shop when something isn't working rather than troubleshooting exclusively from your desk.
• Have designed mechanisms rather than only individual parts.
• Understand that a CAD model still has to be machined, fabricated, assembled and maintained.
• Can look at a mechanical assembly and identify potential problems before they become field failures.
• Are comfortable working through multiple design iterations.
• Enjoy solving unusual mechanical problems where the answer isn't already in a design manual.
• Want considerably more involvement in the actual product than is typical in a large engineering organization.

This Position Is Probably Not a Good Fit If…

• Your professional experience is primarily architectural, HVAC or MEP design.
• Your CAD experience has primarily involved drafting designs developed by others.
• You are seeking a remote CAD position.
• You prefer analysis and documentation without hands-on prototype or shop involvement.
• You are looking for your first engineering/CAD position after graduation.

Work Environment

This is primarily an on-site position at Valkim Technologies in San Antonio.

Work will occur in both an engineering-office and shop/prototyping environment. The position may occasionally support field testing or deployment at industrial customer facilities.

Candidates must be comfortable working around mechanical equipment and participating directly in prototype assembly and testing.

Compensation

$30.00–$38.00 per hour, depending upon demonstrated experience and capabilities.

Expected hours: 40 per week

About Valkim Technologies

Valkim Technologies is a San Antonio-based robotics technology company developing systems that help move people away from hazardous, confined and difficult-to-access industrial environments.

Our robotic platforms are being developed for applications in industrial inspection, infrastructure, energy and government environments.

We are a small product-development organization. Team members have direct visibility into—and responsibility for—the hardware we develop. This environment is best suited to people who enjoy solving problems, building things and seeing their work move rapidly from concept to physical application.

Valkim Technologies LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay: $30.00 - $50.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• 1. How many years of professional mechanical design or machine-design experience do you have?
• 2. Are you able to work full-time, primarily on-site at our San Antonio facility?
• 3. Which 3D CAD systems have you used professionally, and approximately how many years have you used each?
• 4. Have you personally designed mechanical assemblies containing components such as motors, gearboxes, bearings, shafts, wheels, tracks or similar mechanisms?
• 5. Describe one machine, product or mechanical assembly that you personally helped take from design through physical assembly or testing. What portions did you personally design, build or troubleshoot?
• Government contracting requirements:

Are you a US citizen?
Are you willing to be subjected to drug and background screening required
Are you willing to work in shop environment that is subject to assembly, testing and validation?

Ability to Commute:

• San Antonio, TX 78237 (Required)

Work Location: In person