Junior Mechanical CAD Engineer / Designer

equal1
equal1

Design

California, USA

Posted on Jul 5, 2026

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.