Senior Mechanical Engineer

Description:

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 700+ passionate team members. We work in person 4+ days a week.

What You’ll Do:

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for leading the design and the development of connected pet care products, utilizing CAD to architect mechanical designs and take them from concept to mass production. The Senior Mechanical Engineer will work as part of a cross-functional team requiring collaboration and curiosity in domains other than mechanical engineering and will utilize strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, first principles, prototyping skills, CAD fluency, manufacturing process knowledge, and experience designing consumer electronics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Leads the mechanical engineering team in the design and development of innovative products, coordinating efforts to meet project timelines, quality standards and cost objectives
Approaches product design with a high level of rigor and first principles
Utilizes Creo to lay out mechanical architecture, piece parts and mechanisms ensuring precision, functionality and adherence to project specifications
Provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation
Continuously evaluates and optimizes mechanical designs for efficiency, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness, leveraging own expertise in materials, manufacturing processes and design best practices working alongside tooling engineers and suppliers
Develops and maintains comprehensive documentation, including design specifications, technical drawings and engineering documentation
Develops and instills best practices, standards, and procedures
Demonstrates systems-thinking mentality to understand how other engineering disciplines integrate together to achieve product requirements
Conducts benchmarking research and creates design proposals for projects
Works with ODM’s and Contract Manufacturers as engineering oversight, approver of mechanical designs and supporting RFQ process
Travels domestically and overseas to support builds and visit suppliers
Will perform additional responsibilities when required

What You'll Bring

BS in Mechanical Engineering
7+ years of mechanical design experience in consumer electronics
7+ years of experience using Creo for design of consumer products
Experience with system integration including electro-mechanical components, e.g. audio, display, camera, antenna, PCBA’s, waterproofing, grounding, etc.
Experience in Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), statistical tolerance analysis techniques, GD&T and Design of Experiments
Deep history and knowledge in material properties such as plastics, metals, adhesive, etc
Structural and Thermal Analysis experience using FEA tools
Knowledge of high-volume manufacturing techniques (stamping, machining, injection molding, etc.)
Up to 20% travel to manufacturing partners and suppliers
Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, ability to motivate others and able to work with a degree of uncertainty
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
Experience shipping multiple consumer products
Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)

Not Required but nice to have:

10+ years of consumer product design experience, including full systems ownership
7+ years of experience using Creo CAD and Windchill administration
Requirements:

Benefits & Purrks:

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
Paid parental leave
Whisker Parents Program
1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
Pet Insurance Discount
401K match
Flexible spending accounts
Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Generous paid time off
14 Paid Holidays
Top of the line equipment
Pet-friendly office
Whisker products and swag
Continuing education Support
On-site gym with Peloton
Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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