Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, Level 5

Zulu Pods is building America’s next-generation component and sub-system company, and we are seeking highly motivated team players to join us in this mission. We believe in bringing your human to work and embrace out of the box thinking and creativity. We also believe in excellence and competence, with an engineering team boasting extensive turbomachinery mechanical design expertise and holding a combined experience of more than 150 years. At Zulu Pods, we operate withIntegrity, takeExtreme Ownership, lift each other up withServant Leadership, win byExceeding Expectations, and succeed withOptimistic Vision. If these values describe you, please continue: Zulu Pods is seeking an experienced mechanical design engineer in our Northampton, Massachusetts location. The selected individual will continue developing our patented ZPod technology as well as explore potential new markets by designing, prototyping, and testing new products. The experienced design engineer will help to innovate in the space of fluid mechanics, electromechanical devices, and help to solve complex engineering problems. The individual will lead product development of critical importance to the organization, while working with and helping to grow younger engineers. This individual must be capable of thinking critically and operating independently. An ideal candidate is experienced or at least interested in all aspects of engineering. A broad understanding of aerospace applications is greatly beneficial as products progress towards representative testing on turbojet engines, drivetrain, and ultimately implementation on-wing. Lastly, working at a start-up is dynamic and may take on many other shapes. This also means that there will be opportunities to develop this role to suit your skills and interests, even outside of engineering. Responsibilities As a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you will be a key contributor to the Zulu Pods development lifecycle, from concept generation to field deployment. Your primary responsibilities will include: Design and Analysis: Lead the design, analysis, and validation of complex fluidic components and systems (e.g., propulsion systems, thermal management, fuel systems) for various aerospace applications. System Integration: Oversee the integration of fluidic and mechanical subsystems into larger aerospace platforms, ensuring performance, safety, and reliability requirements are met. Modeling and Simulation: Develop and apply advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and other analytical tools to predict, optimize, and troubleshoot system behavior. Testing and Validation: Plan, execute, and analyze results from ground and flight tests to validate system performance against design specifications, iterating as necessary. Requirements Management: Translate high-level mission and system requirements into detailed fluidic and mechanical component specifications. Problem Solving: Rapidly diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to fluid mechanics, system performance anomalies, and hardware failures. Documentation : Generate and maintain detailed engineering documentation, including requirements specifications, design documents, test reports, and manufacturing procedures, adhering to industry standards. Collaboration : Work with cross-functional teams (engineers, designers, operations, and program management) to successfully execute projects on time and within design scope. Technical Leadership : Demonstrated ability to act as the System Architect or Lead Responsible Engineer (LRE) for a major subsystem. Ability to mentor junior engineers and effectively present complex technical data and trade studies to internal stakeholders and external customers. Required Qualifications: Education : Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field. Experience : Minimum of 9 years of professional experience in fluidics, mechanical packaging, and mechanical system technologies. Technical Expertise Requirements: System Design & Analysis : Proven history of leading the design, analysis, and validation of complex aerospace fluidic subsystems. This includes propulsion components (valves, injectors, turbo-machinery interfaces), high-pressure hydraulics/pneumatics, or advanced thermal management loops (single-phase/two-phase). Advanced Fluid Dynamics & CFD : Expert-level proficiency in compressible and incompressible fluid dynamics, heat