Prototype Development Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking an experienced Compressor Development Engineer to support the design, development, testing, and qualification of advanced centrifugal compressor systems.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience in centrifugal compressor design, turbomachinery, rotor dynamics, mechanical component design, FEA, stress analysis, testing, DFMEA, GD&T, and product development.

• Create and implement compressor development plans, including design and review milestones.
• Perform advanced centrifugal compressor design covering mechanical components and related electrical components.
• Design and analyze compressor components including rotors, impellers, shafts, bearings, gears, housings, and related hardware.
• Perform rotor dynamic analysis for both single-stage and multi-stage compressors.
• Evaluate mechanical designs to ensure products meet performance, reliability, and life-cycle requirements.
• Perform detailed stress, vibration, modal, fatigue, and FEA analysis.
• Participate throughout the complete product development lifecycle, from customer requirements and design through prototype manufacturing, qualification, implementation, and product launch.
• Derive component-level requirements from assembly requirements and develop part specifications and engineering drawings.
• Work with suppliers and vendors to determine manufacturability.
• Review inspection results to ensure components are manufactured within required specifications and tolerances.
• Communicate with designers and provide guidance on specifications, drawings, tolerances, and design requirements.
• Apply manufacturing and inspection capabilities when selecting materials and establishing tolerances.
• Apply GD&T principles and develop designs requiring tight tolerances.
• Perform DFMEA during design, analysis, and testing activities.
• Establish pass/fail criteria for engineering analysis and test results.
• Use simulation tools to evaluate product performance, reliability, and design robustness.
• Plan and develop prototype test programs and apply Design of Experiments (DOE) when appropriate.
• Work with laboratory technicians to establish test setups, parameters, and data collection requirements.
• Analyze test data and determine whether designs meet functional, performance, and safety requirements.
• Develop component qualification procedures and make pass/fail decisions based on established criteria.
• Provide detailed engineering analysis using mathematical calculations, FEA, and experimental data.
• Provide accurate product performance results to support product selection, marketing, and sales.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and other cross-functional teams.
• Prepare technical documentation throughout the product development process.

• Strong experience with centrifugal compressor design and development.
• Experience with turbomachinery.
• Strong rotor dynamics / rotordynamics knowledge.
• Experience designing rotors, shafts, impellers, bearings, gears, and compressor housings/casings.
• Strong mechanical engineering and component design experience.
• Experience with FEA / Finite Element Analysis.
• Experience with stress, vibration, modal, and fatigue analysis.
• Knowledge of compressor material selection and mechanical life-cycle requirements.
• Strong understanding of GD&T, engineering drawings, and tight tolerances.
• Experience with DFMEA/FMEA.
• Experience with prototype development, testing, validation, and qualification.
• Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Experience working with manufacturing teams, suppliers, vendors, and inspection teams.
• Strong technical communication and documentation skills.

Bachelor's or Master's degree in:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Turbomachinery or related engineering discipline

Candidates with experience in centrifugal compressors, industrial turbomachinery, rotating equipment, high-speed rotating machinery, compressor systems, or related mechanical systems are highly preferred.