Principal Design Engineer

Principal Design Engineer

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary:

TechSource, a Salas O'Brien company, is seeking a Design Engineer to support the Scorpius Accelerator Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This role is responsible for developing detailed mechanical designs for complex systems and components while collaborating with manufacturing, engineering, and operations teams to ensure designs are functional, manufacturable, and compliant with project requirements.

The ideal candidate has strong mechanical design experience, proficiency with Creo and Windchill, and a solid understanding of GD&T and Design for Manufacturability (DFM). Experience supporting pressure systems or working within ASME B31.3 environments is highly desirable.

Responsibilities:

• Update existing mechanical designs, models, drawings, and assemblies using Creo to support evolving project requirements.
• Collaborate with engineers, designers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel to incorporate design changes and resolve technical issues.
• Maintain engineering documentation, revisions, and released designs within Windchill.
• Apply GD&T principles to ensure drawings accurately communicate design intent and manufacturing requirements.
• Evaluate proposed design changes for manufacturability, assembly, and system integration.
• Communicate engineering updates and design revisions to cross functional teams to ensure alignment throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support configuration management, engineering change requests (ECRs), and engineering change orders (ECOs).
• Participate in design reviews, issue resolution, and continuous improvement activities.
• Assist with troubleshooting, prototype updates, and implementation of design modifications during fabrication and assembly.
• Support pressure safety and ASME B31.3 design requirements when applicable.
• United States citizenship is required for this role. 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience using Creo for mechanical design.
• Working knowledge of Windchill Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).
• Experience applying GD&T in engineering drawings.
• Understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Strong communication and problem solving skills.

Desired Experience:

• Experience supporting Department of Energy or National Laboratory projects.
• Knowledge of ASME B31.3 Process Piping or pressure safety requirements.
• Experience supporting prototype development, fabrication, or advanced manufacturing.
• Familiarity with engineering configuration management processes.

Travel:  

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $175,000 - $200,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Third-Party Agency Notice
Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.