Design Engineer, Connectors

Connector Design Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Connector Design Engineer to join our Design Engineering team in San Carlos, CA. This role is ideal for professionals with a strong background in connector and injection molded component design, who are passionate about developing innovative solutions for flex harness assemblies. The successful candidate will lead design efforts from concept through validation, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure scalable manufacturing processes. This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Design and develop injection molded, overmolded, or progressive die stamped connector components for integration into flex harness assemblies. Responsibilities include design conception, 2D and 3D CAD modeling, prototyping and feasibility analysis, tolerance stackups, and design validation.
• Develop scalable manufacturing processes for integrating connector components, ensuring robustness and efficiency.
• Own and manage APQP documentation and processes related to flex harness assemblies, including DFMEAs, DVP&Rs, and PFMEAs.
• Collaborate with customers and internal cross-functional teams to ensure timely and effective project execution through clear communication.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in connector or complex injection molded design.
• Proven experience with mold flow analysis and FEA simulations.
• Demonstrated experience in developing manufacturing processes for connectors and injection molded components at scale.
• Familiarity with product development lifecycle for high and low voltage connection systems.

Core Skills:

• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks or NX preferred).
• Strong understanding of APQP processes and documentation.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities.

Special Industry Requirements:

• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or consumer electronics industries is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with industry standards such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or similar quality management systems.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

Working Conditions/Hours

Salaried Exempt

Physical Demands – Office and Manufacturing Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms and pull/push; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment –

Includes both a typical office environment, with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues, and a shop environment, with exposure to high noise levels from operating machines, physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts, nuisance dust, and skin exposure to chemicals used to run/maintain machines.

PPE

Employee may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment, including but not limited to safety glasses, safety shoes, bump-caps, gloves, hair nets, masks, & clean-room frocks while adhering to the prescribed safety procedures. Ear plugs are recommended in areas of high noise levels that meet minimum OSHA requirements.