Product Design / Product Test Engineer
Nathan Kunes Inc (NKI Engineering)
San Diego, CA
Quality Assurance / Control
Product Design / Product Test Engineer
Location: San Diego, CA
NKI is experiencing rapid growth, and we're looking for a full-time Product Design / Product Test Engineer to join our team and support this exciting expansion. At NKI, we're committed to investing in our employees' growth and development, helping them achieve their career goals. To learn more about us and our team, visit our website.
About You And The Role
The Product Design / Product Test Engineer will play a key role in both mechanical product design and automated testing. This position involves designing mechanical assemblies with moving parts, performing thermal and stress/strain analyses, creating detailed drafts, and applying DFM principles to ensure manufacturability. In addition, the engineer will develop automated test systems, build custom test fixtures, and carry out a variety of reliability and validation testing programs to ensure product performance and quality.
We are looking for a San Diego-based Product Design / Product Test Engineer to join our team at NKI. This is a 100% onsite, full-time position following a 9/80 schedule.
What You Will Do
Product Design (Approx. 50%)
- Design, develop, and modify mechanical and electromechanical products using sound engineering principles.
- Create product assemblies, detailed drawings, and schematics using CAD tools (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or similar).
- Perform engineering analyses including:
- Thermal analysis
- Stress/strain analysis
- Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
- Evaluate feasibility of designs based on cost, timeline, manufacturing capability, and technical constraints.
- Collaborate with research and engineering teams to resolve design challenges and refine concepts.
- Direct and coordinate prototype builds and system-level evaluations.
- Design and develop automated test systems using Python.
- Create test fixtures for mechanical cycle testing, reliability testing, and performance characterization.
- Conduct and support reliability programs including:
- Shock & vibration testing
- HALT testing
- Environmental and lifecycle testing
- Plan and execute experimental test programs to validate product performance.
- Analyze test results and prepare reports to determine compliance with functional and performance specifications.
- Recommend design modifications based on data results and engineering principles.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering.
- 2+ years of professional experience in product design, mechanical systems, or test engineering.
- Proficiency in CAD software: Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
- Strong Python programming skills.
- Ability to apply engineering principles to both product design and test development.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes, tolerance analysis, and design reviews.
- U.S. citizenship required; must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
Career Growth: We invest in your professional development and provide clear opportunities for advancement.
Impactful Work: Contribute to critical government and commercial projects that make a difference.
Collaborative Culture: Work alongside experienced professionals in a supportive environment.
Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and a 9/80 work schedule for better work-life balance.
Benefits Include
- Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.
- 401(k) plan with potential employer-sponsored bonus 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off).
- Base salary: $80,000-$100,000 depending on experience.
- 10 days of paid vacation, 7 sick days, and 10 paid holidays annually.
NKI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
About the company
Company website•Software Development
Founded in 1998 and based in San Diego, CA, Nathan Kunes Incorporated (NKI) is a privately owned small business that specializes in providing powerful solutions to the most complex software, systems and information assurance challenges. Our high-level technical expertise and successful history of contract support to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community and other Governmental Agencies provide a uniquely trusted and influential skillset to our clients.
NKI has established itself as a recognized industry leader and developed a reputation for providing innovative technical contributions and delivering cutting edge analytical support to all of our customers. Over the years, NKI has successfully built a solid foundation which provides outstanding benefits to employees, facilitated expansion of our contractual base and fosters a work environment which encourages individual opportunity and growth.
Our capabilities and experiences are multi-disciplined allowing us to be responsive to a wide range of technical issues. Our team comprises industry-leading engineers with high-level clearances who deliver the highest quality technical expertise.
Some of our capabilities and experience include:
*High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE)
*Android
*Software Defined Radio
*Embedded Systems
*Key Management Infrastructure
*Satellite Communications
*Signals Intelligence
*UAS/Airborne Platforms
*Web Development
*Cyber Security