Senior Mechanical Engineer, Sites

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Northwood, your primary responsibilities include leading global deployments and installations of antenna and site hardware, engineering and iterating site layouts for scalability, driving R&D efforts for new site hardware, overseeing live operations to ensure optimal performance, and managing collaborations with both domestic and international partners.

To apply for the Senior Mechanical Engineer position at Northwood, candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in mechanical, civil, or a related engineering discipline, along with at least 5 years of relevant experience. Proficiency in CAD for mechanical modeling is essential, and experience in construction, facilities, and a basic knowledge of programming languages such as Python or C++ are preferred.

Northwood is committed to the professional development of its team members, including Senior Mechanical Engineers. The company offers opportunities for continuous learning through workshops, training sessions, and the ability to work on diverse projects in the cutting-edge field of space communications, ensuring employees grow their skills while contributing to impactful projects.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer role at Northwood involves frequent travel to various ground station sites around the world. This is an essential part of the job, as you'll be responsible for overseeing installations and ensuring the successful deployment of hardware in diverse environments.

Northwood provides a competitive compensation package tailored to the Senior Mechanical Engineer role, including a base salary determined by qualifications and experience. Additionally, employees may receive long-term incentives such as stock options and bonuses for performance, along with generous benefits like healthcare coverage, unlimited vacation, and opportunities for retirement savings.

When discussing your mechanical design experience, focus on specific projects where you successfully designed systems or structures. Highlight your proficiency in CAD software and how you've utilized it to develop efficient designs. It's also beneficial to mention how your designs addressed specific challenges and resulted in effective solutions.

Managing tight deadlines requires effective time management and prioritization. Share specific strategies, such as breaking down projects into manageable tasks, setting realistic timelines, and communicating transparently with your team. Emphasize past experiences where you've successfully balanced speed and quality.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to outline a specific challenging project. Detail the obstacles faced, the actions you took to address them, and the positive outcome. This approach demonstrates your problem-solving skills and resilience in the face of adversity.

Discuss the prototyping techniques you've employed, such as rapid prototyping, iterative designs, or user feedback loops. Explain how you conducted testing to validate designs, ensuring functionality and performance, and share any specific outcomes that highlight successful testing efforts.

Highlight your communication skills and your experience working with diverse teams. Talk about how you effectively share ideas and incorporate feedback from different disciplines to enhance project outcomes. Provide examples of successful collaborations and how they led to mission success.

Discuss any coding experience you have, particularly in languages like Python or C++. Explain how coding can be applied in mechanical engineering, such as automating design calculations or integrating mechanical systems with software components, demonstrating your technical versatility.

Talk about the importance of monitoring systems post-deployment. Discuss how you would implement performance metrics, troubleshoot common issues, and suggest maintenance plans to ensure the systems remain operational and efficient over time.

Stress the significance of iterative design processes. Share how you gather insights from field operations, assess performance data, and integrate this feedback to enhance future designs, optimizing for efficiency and effectiveness based on user experiences.

Identify key traits such as adaptability, strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and a collaborative spirit. Explain how these qualities contribute to achieving objectives under pressure and ensuring successful project completions in fast-paced settings.

Share your problem-solving approach, emphasizing your ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues effectively. Discuss your hands-on experience with tools and your method for systematically identifying problems, ensuring that you remain composed and efficient during troubleshooting.