OVERVIEW
Cadrex is seeking a Principal Engineer who serves as the senior technical authority for the mechanical design, development, and industrialization of advanced data center rack systems, with a focus on OCP, Open Rack Platforms, and industry infrastructure standards. This role leads the development of scalable, cost-effective rack structures and mechanical subsystems for hyperscale computing, AI, and high-performance computing environments, leveraging expertise in structural design, sheet metal fabrication, welded assemblies, thermal management, and design for manufacturing.
The Principal Engineer translates customer requirements and industry standards into manufacturable products, guiding designs from concept through validation and full-scale production. This position partners with customers, engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and operations while establishing technical standards, resolving complex engineering challenges, mentoring engineering talent, and advancing the company's data center infrastructure product portfolio.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead mechanical architecture, design, and development of data center rack systems and related infrastructure.
- Design structural frames, sheet metal assemblies, mounting systems, power supports, cable management, and associated components.
- Establish modular product architectures that support scalability, customization, and component standardization.
- Develop mechanical solutions for high-density computing, AI infrastructure, power distribution, and liquid-cooling applications.
- Establish engineering standards for materials, tolerances, finishes, fasteners, and product configurations.
- Lead structural analysis, FEA, and validation of rack systems to ensure strength, stability, load capacity, and durability.
- Establish design requirements for payload, deflection, weld integrity, dimensional accuracy, and safe handling.
- Develop and oversee prototype testing, engineering validation plans, and design qualification activities.
- Investigate and resolve structural failures, vibration, deformation, and mechanical performance issues.
- Optimize product designs for sheet metal fabrication, forming, welding, finishing, and final assembly.
- Develop designs that support automation, robotic welding, standardized tooling, and repeatable production.
- Reduce material usage, part complexity, weld requirements, rework, and manufacturing costs.
- Partner with manufacturing engineering to improve production efficiency, quality, throughput, and process capability.
- Maintain compliance with applicable OCP, Open Rack, customer, and industry specifications.
- Ensure mechanical designs accommodate IT equipment, power distribution, cable management, and cooling system interfaces.
- Collaborate with electrical, power, and thermal engineering teams to support evolving rack architectures.
- Lead compliance reviews, requirements documentation, and customer qualification activities.
- Serve as the senior mechanical engineering resource for strategic hyperscale and data center customers.
- Translate customer requirements into technical specifications, design solutions, and engineering proposals.
- Lead technical reviews, feasibility assessments, and design discussions.
- Support commercial teams with RFQs, technical presentations, cost assessments, and customer design-in activities.
- Lead mechanical engineering activities from concept and prototyping through validation and full-scale production.
- Oversee CAD models, engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and revision-controlled documentation.
- Partner with NPI and manufacturing teams to establish tooling, routings, work instructions, and inspection requirements.
- Resolve engineering issues during production ramp and ensure successful product transitions to sustaining engineering.
- Lead design-to-cost and value engineering initiatives to improve product profitability without compromising quality or performance.
- Evaluate materials, fabrication methods, suppliers, and assembly processes to identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Use production data, scrap trends, quality performance, and customer feedback to drive design improvements.
- Establish mechanical engineering standards, CAD practices, design procedures, and product development methodologies.
- Provide technical mentorship and guidance to mechanical and manufacturing engineering teams.
- Review and approve critical designs, structural calculations, and validation plans.
- Advance engineering capabilities, product innovation, design standardization, and long-term product development strategies.
