Contract Python Jobs in Buffalo, NY (NOW HIRING)

An Engineer IV, Mechanical to lead the design, analysis, and physical integration of complex mechanical systems and hardware onto our next-generation platforms. You will serve as a technical anchor, bridging R&D prototypes with production-ready systems, and taking full ownership of subsystems from concept through to validation and deployment. As a senior member of the team, you will act as a hands-on mentor to junior engineers, establish design standards, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver highly reliable, high-performance mechanical solutions that can survive demanding real-world environments.

• Lead the mechanical engineering efforts for structural design, integration of hardware, and subsystem packaging from initial ideation through to final drawing release.
• Own the evolution of early-stage R&D concepts and custom retrofits into scalable, high-reliability, production-ready systems, ensuring designs meet structural, environmental, and safety standards.
• Execute finite element analyses (FEA) and first-order hand calculations to validate designs against static, dynamic, modal/vibration, and thermal use cases.
• Lead, mentor, and grow the mechanical engineering discipline by establishing best practices, standardizing workflows, conducting deep-dive design reviews, and guiding junior engineers.
• Optimize designs for manufacturing, assembly, and serviceability (DFM/DFA/DFS), collaborating closely with manufacturing, procurement, and external vendors.
• Pack and physically integrate sensors (cameras, LiDAR, radar, IMUs), compute units, and ancillary equipment, establishing clean routing paths for wire harnesses and cabling within tight mechanical envelopes.
• Design sealed, protective enclosures (IP-rated) and thermal solutions (cooling jackets, heat sinks) to safeguard sensitive electronic systems from vibration, dust, and thermal loads.
• Participate hands-on in physical bring-up, vehicle integration, and environmental testing campaigns (vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, etc.), collaborating with validation teams to execute test plans.
• Maintain precise Bills of Materials (BOM), assembly documentation, tolerance budgets, and engineering change orders (ECO/DCO) within PDM/PLM systems.
• Serve as a key mechanical interface for non-mechanical engineering partners, translating physical constraints and structural trade-offs into clear systems-level decisions.

• Bachelor's Degree (4 years) - Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent required (Master’s Degree preferred).
• 8+ year(s) in mechanical design and integration within automotive, aerospace, robotics, heavy machinery, or a high-innovation R&D environment.
• Advanced proficiency with 3D CAD platforms (SolidWorks or Onshape preferred) and 2D drafting/geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
• Structural Material Expertise: Deep knowledge of designing with aluminum, steel, and advanced materials, with an emphasis on sheet metal fabrication, welded structures, extrusions, castings, and machined components.
• Demonstrated mastery of linear and 2D tolerance stack-up analyses, joint design (bolted, welded, bonded), and component selection (fasteners, seals, materials, coatings).
• Strong hands-on experience running structural and modal analyses (ANSYS, Nastran, FEMAP, or equivalent) to validate design integrity under vibration and fatigue conditions.
• Proven experience designing IP-sealed enclosures, mounting solutions, and packaging for electromechanical systems in harsh environments.
• Direct experience working within a structured product lifecycle management (PLM) environment, including running configuration management, ECO processes, and generating complex BOMs.
• Experience managing external fabrication vendors and contract manufacturers from initial Request for Quote (RFQ) through final part delivery.
• Comfortable and skilled in a shop or lab environment, using hand tools, basic machining equipment, and diagnostics to support prototype assembly and fit-checks.
• Experience in leveraging AI tools to accelerate Mechanical Engineering workflow
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.

• Experience in thermal design, CFD, heat exchangers, or heat sink optimization.
• Basic scripting skills in Python, MATLAB, or Go for design automation or data analysis.

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