Principal Design Engineer - Gearboxes & Transmissions

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Job Title: Principal Design Engineer – Gearboxes and Transmissions

Location: Wadsworth, OH (on-site)

Employment: Full-time, Exempt (Salary)

Position Summary:

As a Principal Design Engineer – Gearboxes and Transmissions at PT Tech, part of the Timken Company, you will develop custom designed solutions for the aggregate, marine, metal and steel, mining, wood waste recycling, and material processing industries. We are seeking an experienced gearbox and transmission design engineer to become the organization’s internal expert on gear systems design and development. This hands-on technical leader will drive concept-to-production development and mentor other engineers to raise the company’s capability in gear design and drivetrain systems development. On-site presence in Wadsworth, OH is required with the potential for flexible work arrangements. Periodic customer and supplier visits expected.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development of transmissions, gearboxes, and gearing sub-systems (spur, helical, bevel, planetary) from concept through production release, including detailed gear geometry and thermal processing requirements, shafts, bearing arrangements, housings, seals, and lubrication systems.
• Collaborate with application engineering and customers to understand operating duty cycles and translate requirements into detailed gearbox specifications.
• Perform and validate gear calculations: load capacity, AGMA or ISO gear design calculations, contact pattern analysis, bending and pitting / scuffing safety factors, and bearing life calculations.
• Develop tolerance stack-ups, interference / clearance analyses, and fit / assembly procedures / tolerances ensuring robust function across manufacturing and service conditions.
• Define testing requirements and oversee gearbox test programs to validate durability performance, acceptable NVH, and thermal stability.
• Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to ensure designs meet requirements, are manufacturable, and are cost-effective.
• Resolve production or field issues with structured 8D problem solving techniques and implementation of robust engineering changes.
• Serve as the internal gear design authority; create best-practice standards, calculation templates, design guidelines, and training for engineering teams.
• Support of dry and wet friction clutches and brakes and related products.

Required Qualifications:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (or related) with 7+ years of hands-on gearbox and gear design experience, MS in Mechanical Engineering (or related) with 5+ years experience, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Demonstrated proficiency in accepted gear design methods (AGMA or ISO standards), gear tooth strength / contact calculations, and bearing life calculations.
• Experience with tolerance stack-ups, fits, assembly techniques, and GD&T.
• Proven experience developing and overseeing gearbox test plans and validation of drivetrain system performance.
• Strong CAD skills (CREO preferred; SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar acceptable) and familiarity with PDM and PLM systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers and across internal teams through written and verbal mediums.
• Effective time management and prioritization skills.
• On-site work in Wadsworth, OH required with the potential for flexible work arrangements.
• Estimated travel to customers or suppliers may be required approximately once per month or less.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS) in mechanical engineering, materials science, tribology, or related technical field.
• Experience with gear analysis software (KISSsoft preferred; ROMAX, MITCALC, or similar acceptable) and FEA (Ansys preferred; Abacus or similar acceptable) for gear contact / stress analysis.
• Experience with automatic, automated manual, dual-clutch, manual, or powershift transmission development across electrified, internal combustion, and / or hybrid powertrains strongly desired.
• Background in tribology, lubrication system design for gearboxes, noise / vibration (NVH) mitigation, and thermal management of powertrains.
• Experience with development of dry and wet friction clutches, brakes, and fluid couplings.
• Experience interfacing with embedded electrical control systems and hydraulics systems engineers to develop electronic-hydraulic control systems for multi-speed shifting gearboxes and transmissions.
• Understanding of linear and torsional vibrations in gear, bearing, and rotating shaft systems and design best practices.
• Proven track record of establishing design standards, training programs, and technical references for gear design.
• Training certifications for gear systems design and failure analysis, gear analysis software packages, bearing selection analysis, contact mechanics and FEA, NVH, tribology, product development and testing, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and related fields.
• Active participation in AGMA, AIAG, ASME, SAE, STLE, or related technical societies.

This position may require access to United States export controlled technical data (“CTD”) and hardware under the Departments of US State (ITAR) and/or Commerce (EAR).  Eligible candidates are; US Citizens, Green Card holders, Asylees or others eligible to receive US export license authorizations. Candidate must be authorized to work in the US.

All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.