Principal Engineer – Ball Screw Design (Aerospace / Advanced Motion Systems)

About

We’re looking for a Principal Engineer to own and drive the design of high-performance ball screw systems used in demanding aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial applications. This is a visible, technical leadership role where your decisions directly impact product performance, reliability, and innovation.

What You’ll Own

• End-to-end design of precision ball screw assemblies (shafts, nuts, recirculation systems)
• Core architecture decisions: geometry, preload, life, and lubrication strategies
• Advanced analysis across contact stress, fatigue life, friction, stiffness, and thermal behavior
• FEA/CAE leadership for nonlinear contact, dynamics, and optimization
• Failure analysis and reliability improvement (FMEA, root cause)
• Material selection, heat treatment, coatings, and surface finish standards
• Test strategy including endurance, torque, and environmental validation
• Technical leadership across programs, while mentoring engineers and guiding design direction
• Collaboration with manufacturing and customers to solve complex challenges

Requirements

• 10+ years in mechanical design, including deep experience with ball screws or precision motion systems
• Strong foundation in contact mechanics, tribology, and fatigue analysis
• Hands-on experience with CAD/CAE tools (SolidWorks, ANSYS, Abaqus, etc.)
• Experience with electromechanical actuators or aerospace systems
• Background in precision manufacturing or process development
• Familiarity with aerospace standards (DO-160, MIL-STD)
• Six Sigma or reliability certification