Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer
San Diego, CA
Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer
Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, and drawings for cryogenic cooler and system integration components, with hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of cryostat systems. Requires a master’s in Mechanical Engineering or related field, 3D CAD/CAM knowledge, and hands-on assembly experience.
We are seeking a Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer to join Equal1's cryogenic cooler and system integration team. In this role, you will create mechanical components from concept through assembly and system testing.
Components will include CNC-machined parts, vacuum-brazed assemblies, cryogenic turbo-compressor designs, Joule-Thomson counterflow heat exchangers for He-4 and He-3 cycles, and magnetic field generation and control structures. The role requires strong 3D CAD capability, practical design-for-manufacture knowledge, and a hands-on approach to building and testing cryostat systems.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Required
Preferred
Components will include CNC-machined parts, vacuum-brazed assemblies, cryogenic turbo-compressor designs, Joule-Thomson counterflow heat exchangers for He-4 and He-3 cycles, and magnetic field generation and control structures. The role requires strong 3D CAD capability, practical design-for-manufacture knowledge, and a hands-on approach to building and testing cryostat systems.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings for cryogenic cooler and system integration components.
- Design CNC-machined parts, vacuum-brazed assemblies, cryogenic compressor components, heat exchangers, and magnetic field control structures.
- Apply design-for-manufacture and assembly principles, including machining processes, sheet metal fabrication, tolerances, and ease of assembly.
- Work with internal teams, suppliers, and machinists to support fabrication, design iteration, and manufacturability reviews.
- Support hands-on assembly, integration, and testing of cryostat systems.
- Maintain design documentation, drawings, BOMs, and engineering change records.
Required
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- Good knowledge of 3D CAD tools; NX or Onshape experience is a plus.
- 3D CAD and CAM knowledge.
- Understanding of metal production processes, including CNC, 5-axis machining, dual-spindle lathe processes, sheet metal fabrication, and/or 3D metal printing.
- Understanding of engineering materials, including copper, stainless steel, aluminium alloys, carbon fibre, and glass fibre composites.
- Basic understanding of adhesive bonding and brazing processes.
- Hands-on assembly or project execution experience.
Preferred
- 2+ years of industry experience, ideally in aerospace, semiconductor equipment, cryogenic systems, scientific instrumentation, or precision mechanical engineering.
- Cryogenic experience is a plus.