Principal Mechanical Engineer

Job Overview

CRC is seeking a Principal Mechanical Product Engineer to provide senior-level mechanical ownership across both new product development and existing products. This role is accountable for the mechanical integrity, manufacturability, cost structure, and long-term sustainability of CRC’s physical products.

The role participates in new product development by defining mechanical intent, risks, validation needs, and standards early, while also ensuring existing products are improved systematically over time. This is a principal-level technical role focused on ownership, judgment, and long-term leverage.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Product Ownership

• Provide senior mechanical judgment during new product development to ensure designs are robust, manufacturable, and scalable from the start.
• Own mechanical design intent and key tradeoffs for products as they move from concept through release and sustaining.
• Serve as the mechanical escalation point for complex or high-risk product decisions.

Manufacturability, Cost, and Risk Reduction

• Drive mechanical decisions that improve manufacturability, assembly efficiency, and robustness through handling and shipping.
• Identify and lead mechanical cost-reduction and simplification opportunities across new and existing products.
• Reduce recurring mechanical issues by addressing root causes through design improvements and standards.

Mechanical Standards, Validation, and Enablement

• Define and maintain mechanical standards that guide both new designs and changes to existing products.
• Define mechanical validation needs for new products and significant changes, including what must be tested and why.
• Partner with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and external partners to ensure mechanical intent is executed correctly.

Required Skills & Experience

• 6+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, product engineering, or manufacturing-focused engineering roles.
• Experience supporting products through new product development and into production and sustaining.
• Working proficiency with mechanical design tools (e.g., SolidWorks or similar)
• Strong understanding of manufacturability, assembly considerations, and mechanical cost drivers.
• Ability to make sound technical tradeoffs and operate independently.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to Haves

• Experience contributing to or guiding new product development efforts.
• Background in industrial, electromechanical, or enclosure-based products.
• Experience defining mechanical validation or test strategies.
• Experience driving measurable cost or manufacturability improvements.
• Familiarity working with third-party engineering firms or suppliers.