Acoustic Engineer
Sparton is a leading contract design and manufacturing company with a specialization in electronic and electro-mechanical assemblies. Our customers include, Military, Medical, Biotechnology and Aerospace companies that are highly regulated with specialized needs.
Basic Purpose of Position: Provides extensive knowledge in field of specialization and working knowledge of other fields. Capable of clearly defining appropriate technical approaches and solutions to most Sparton critical challenges. Able to define critical project criteria to ensure project completion. Uses creativity to resolve complex issues. Has demonstrated leadership skills and a working knowledge of business and customer requirements. Demonstrates exceptional communications skills.
Primary or Major Responsibilities:
- Use Sparton policies and procedures to complete work assignments.
- Design underwater hydrophones and/or active and passive transducers utilizing cylindrical ceramics, flexural disks, cantilever beams, and geophones.
- Design, model, simulate, and test complex acoustic transducers.
- Assist engineering with design modification of acoustic subsystems and systems for development.
- Support designs with analysis, simulations and calculations including space, Mathcad, MATLAB and FEA. Prepare drawings/documentation for work as required for engineering and manufacturing of products.
- Conduct complex in-house tests, direct and guide or mentor other Engineers.
- Apply risk, failure analysis, and root cause analysis as required within the engineering discipline.
- Represent engineering in cross-departmental activities such as Material Review Board.
- Resolve product process and system issues; provide recommendation for enhancements and cost reductions; initiate Engineering Change Notices; and formulate cost impacts.
- Keep accurate and complete records of engineering activities.
- May act as project lead including organizing, execution, and coordinating technical assignments.
- Evaluate materials and systems, identify equipment, or prepare work instructions for manufacturing.
- Provide training and/or direction to other engineers, technicians or manufacturing operators.
- Provide input to bid and proposal activities.
- Provide communications and/or presentations to customers, suppliers or vendors.
- Travel and participation in product field tests.
- All other duties as assigned.
Safety: Ensure that all assignments are performed in compliance with applicable Federal, State, Provincial and Company safety and health regulations, and where applicable, utilize proper personal protective equipment.
Minimum Requirements:
- BSEE; MSEE preferred in acoustics/sonar/ultrasonic related field.
- A minimum of ten years related experience.
- Knowledge/skills must include strong education, theoretical background and experience with applied hands-on implementation expertise in electronic design, simulation, modeling, analysis, and test.
- Finite element modeling/analysis experience with ANSYS and/or PZFlex required
- Experience with simulation and computational programs (e.g. MatLab, MathCad).
- Must be familiar with piezoelectric materials and associated applications
- Experience with transducer potting materials such as epoxies and urethanes
- Hands-on experience with development, building and testing of acoustic transducer assemblies and systems.
- Pluses include shock and vibration testing, designing for shock and vibration, experience with flow noise.
- Pluses include experience with analog and digital interfacing, amplifiers, microcontrollers, digital signal processing and knowledge of, time and frequency domain filtering, sampling theorem and aliasing and communication protocols.
- Ability to draw solutions from both formal training and experience and use original thinking and ingenuity.
- Experience in generating design documentation, and technical reports.
- Ability to write proposals, cost and schedule estimates (including budgets), and participate in presentations.
- Proficiency in using MS Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
- Must show high initiative, be self-motivated, and have ability to act independently on technical matters.
Sparton provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, or service in the military. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.