Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer
Equal1 · Foster City
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
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.
Experience and Qualifications
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.