Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Fiber Optics / Connectivity

Location: Minnesota - Minneapolis Metropolitan Area
Working Pattern: Fully On-Site - 5 Days Per Week

$145,000 - $153,000 per year + Benefits

I am recruiting for an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to join a highly innovative R&D team developing next-generation fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and connectivity hardware for the global data centre market.

This is an opportunity to work on advanced technologies supporting some of the world's fastest-growing markets, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, co-packaged optics and hyperscale data centres.

Ideally, you will have previous experience designing and developing fiber optic connectors, optical connectivity products or cable assemblies.

Also interested in experienced Mechanical Engineers from other high-precision product development environments, including medical devices, electrical connectors, fluid connectors, disk drives and similar precision-engineered products.

Principal Mechanical Engineer Key Responsibilities

• Lead new product development from concept through design, validation and production launch.
• Design and develop innovative fiber optic connectivity products and hardware.
• Perform engineering analysis and simulation, including FEA and Monte Carlo analysis.
• Develop and evaluate concepts using rapid prototyping techniques.
• Lead prototype testing, product validation and technical problem-solving.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Automation and NPI teams using Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles.
• Support the development of new manufacturing processes for advanced fiber optic products.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Project Management, Procurement, Quality and Manufacturing teams.
• Work with patent attorneys on new product innovations and intellectual property.
• Provide technical leadership throughout the complete product development lifecycle.
• Occasionally travel internationally to manufacturing facilities to support new product introductions.

Principal Mechanical Engineer Essential Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years' mechanical engineering experience, ideally within R&D or new product development.
• Strong product design and development experience.
• Proven ability to independently lead technically complex engineering projects.
• Strong 3D CAD skills using Creo, SolidWorks or similar.
• Excellent knowledge of GD&T.
• Experience designing products involving manufacturing processes such as injection molding, insert molding, machining, extrusion and sheet metal forming.
• Experience developing test plans, conducting product testing and interpreting technical results.

Principal Mechanical Engineer Highly Desirable Skills:

• Fiber optic connector design and development experience.
• Fiber optic cable assembly or optical connectivity hardware experience.
• Understanding of fiber optic systems and network architectures.
• Co-packaged optics (CPO) experience.
• Opto-mechanical assembly.
• Active and passive optical alignment.
• Pick-and-place, bonding and dispensing technologies.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a senior technical position offering the opportunity to influence the development of next-generation fiber optic connectivity technology supporting AI, cloud and hyperscale data centre infrastructure.

You'll combine hands-on mechanical engineering with technical leadership, R&D and new product development, taking complex products from initial concept through to full-scale manufacturing.

Please note: This is a fully on-site role based in Shakopee, Minnesota, 5 days per week.