Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Summary Chroma ATE Inc. is a world-leading supplier of precision test and measurement instrumentation, automated test systems, and turnkey test & automation solutions for the semiconductor, EV, battery, and power electronics industries. Our Cobra product line delivers extreme thermal solutions for IC package testing —enabling liquid-free, wide-range temperature control (down to -70°C) for semiconductor OEMs across mobile, automotive, and high-performance computing markets. The Manager of Mechanical Engineering leads a multidisciplinary project engineering team of six mechanical engineers, and one project coordinator responsible for designing custom change kits, thermal forcing systems, gantry, rack, & enclosure products that interface Chroma's Cobra thermal platforms to customer devices under test (DUTs). This role owns team staffing, workload allocation, mentoring, and performance management, while remaining technically engaged — reviewing designs, resolving cross-disciplinary engineering issues, and ensuring the accuracy, quality, and manufacturability of all drawings, BOMs, and design documentation the team produces. The Manager of Mechanical Engineering partners closely with Sales & Manufacturing departments, as well as customers to align engineering output with project schedules, budgets, and technical requirements, and represents the team in design reviews, program planning, and escalations. *Primary Responsibilities* _Team Leadership & People Management_ * Hire, onboard, and develop the Project Mechanical Engineering team * Set individual and team goals; conduct performance reviews, provide coaching, and manage career development plans. * Allocate engineering resources and workload across concurrent customer programs based on priority, capacity, and skill fit. * Foster a collaborative, safety-first team culture and resolve interpersonal or cross-functional conflicts as needed. * Own recruiting requisitions, interview panels, and hiring decisions for open team positions. * Mentor engineers on design methodology, tools (SolidWorks), documentation standards, and industry best practices. _Program & Project Oversight_ * This Team focuses on quick turnaround change kits that interface our thermal forcing systems to customers semiconductor devices and PCB’s. Standard design time for a kit is 1-2weeks from requirements review to release. It is common to have 10-20 running projects at a time for several different customers. Therefore, good organizational skills and an efficient design and review methodology is required. * Interface with customers, Sales and Production departments to determine and prioritize design requirements across multiple concurrent projects. * Review and approve customer drawings, CAD models, and design change requests before release to the team. * Oversee design of change kits, custom thermal forcing systems, racks, gantry, and enclosure products, ensuring designs meet cost, schedule, and performance targets. * Lead and facilitate design reviews internally and with Customers, Production & Sales departments. * Ensure the team maintains accurate BOMs, Operation and maintenance manuals, and design calculations for initial design and production. * Coordinate with the project coordinator to track project schedules, deliverables, and open action items across the team's programs. * Escalate and resolve technical, schedule, or resource risks with the Director of Engineering and cross-functional stakeholders. _Technical Engineering Oversight_ * Perform design reviews on all projects before release. Create checklists and guidelines, mentor the team to maintain consistency, quality and efficiency of engineering output * Perform mechanical design for key developments as needed such as, new architectures, new design concepts or improvements, or key customer designs. * Guide the team through feasibility studies, risk assessments, cost analyses, and FMEA to ensure designs are safe and economical. * Support the production dept. with development of instructions, processes, and troubleshooting of nonconforming products. * Approve engineering change orders generated by the team. * Ensure adherence to ASME and internal drafting/documentation standards across all team output. * Stay current on emerging technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes relevant to mechanical and electrical design, and introduce improvements to team practices. * Participate in customer and vendor site visits at critical project stages as needed. * Proactively engage in and promote all aspects of the company safety program. * Travel up to 20%. *Qualification / Education / Experience / Skills* _Required Qualifications_ * Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. * 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and engineering, including 2+ years directly managing or leading an engineering team. * Proven ability to manage staffing, performance reviews, and career development for direct reports across multiple disciplines. * Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks) and other engineering tools for design and analysis. * Strong understanding of mechanical principles, materials science, manufacturing processes, and familiarity with electrical design concepts sufficient to guide a direct-report Electrical Engineer. * Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, priorities, and resources under limited supervision. * Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills, including experience presenting to customers and senior stakeholders. * Familiarity with relevant industry standards, codes, and regulations. * Understanding of various types of metals used to manufacture custom testing set ups. * Must drive projects and team deliverables in a timely, organized manner. _Preferred Qualifications_ * Prior experience managing engineers across more than one discipline (e.g., mechanical and electrical). * Thermal equipment design, control, and knowledge. * Working experience or knowledge of the semiconductor or optics industry. * Experience with ATE (Automated Test Equipment) or semiconductor test/handling systems. * PMP, Six Sigma, or equivalent project/process management certification. Chroma ATE, Inc. (USA) is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veterans/Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Pay: $130,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Health savings account * Paid time off * Tuition reimbursement * Vision insurance Application Question(s): * How many years of experience do you have in mechanical design/engineering? * How many years of experience do you have directly managing or leading an engineering team? * Have you conducted performance reviews with staff and/or mentored direct reports for their career development? * Rate your profiency with using Solidworks Software on a scale of 1-10. Work Location: In person