Senior Mechanical Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 18, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 15, 2026. Physik Instrumente scores B on the Alion truth index.
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and experiencedSenior Mechanical Engineer - Piezo to join our Engineering team in our Shrewsbury, MA office. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing high-precision mechanical systems and motion instruments from concept through productions.
What We Provide:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA PPO medical plan with HSA.
- Dental and vision insurance.
- LTD & Life insurance.
- Tuition Reimbursement
- 12 Holiday days off
- PTO and Sick Time
- 401k with a generous company match.
- And much more
About Us:
PI (Physik Instrumente), LP is a global leader in high-precision positioning systems. We design and manufacture world-class precision motion and automation solutions across our facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our diverse product portfolio includes air bearings and air bearing stages, hexapod positioning and alignment systems, precision actuators, piezo drivers, and much more. Our customers are pioneers in cutting-edge industries and research institutions spanning photonics, semiconductors, aerospace, and life sciences.
Innovation is at the core of our identity - we often create or build devices for applications being realized for the very first time, driving advancements that shape entire markets. Our culture is characterized by openness, transparency, and enthusiasm, fueled by a shared curiosity to tackle emerging scientific and technological challenges. If you possess an inquisitive mindset and enjoy developing solutions for first-generation problems, you will be right at home!
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and development of mechanical components, subassemblies, and system architectures for high-precision motion instruments across full product development cycles.
- Own mechanical design execution from concept through production release, including technical decision-making and design validation.
- Develop advanced 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and complete design documentation with full adherence to precision tolerance and GD&T standards.
- Perform and lead engineering analysis including tolerance stack-ups, error budgets, and FEA (thermal, structural, and modal) to ensure system-level performance and stability.
- Design precision mechanisms, motion systems, and opto-mechanical assemblies, including kinematic structures, flexures, and thermally stable architectures.
- Design monolithic flexures (often via wire EDM) using CAD software and using ANSYS or SolidWorks to optimize for high resonant frequencies, thermal stability, and stress-strain limits.
- Choose the right piezoelectric materials and sizing them for optimum stiffness, blocking force, and displacement.
- Design systems with closed-loop feedback-typically employ capacitive, strain gauge, or laser interferometer sensors-to eliminate hysteresis and creep.
- Program and tune PID controllers or digital algorithms to ensure maximum bandwidth and minimal parasitic motion (pitch, yaw, and roll).
- Lead prototype development, assembly, integration, and testing of motion systems, driving iterative design improvements based on test data.
- Oversee system-level integration, alignment, and performance verification, with emphasis on accuracy, repeatability, drift, and environmental sensitivity.
- Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless system integration and manufacturability.
- Evaluate and resolve complex engineering challenges, making independent technical decisions and trade-offs to meet product requirements.
- Ensure design intent, test results, and engineering decisions are thoroughly documented to support traceability, quality, and production readiness
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field (Master's degree preferred)
- 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, product development, or mechatronic systems, with significant exposure to precision motion or high-performance mechanical systems.
- Demonstrated experience designing and releasing mechanical systems from concept through production in a product development environment.
- Strong proficiency with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred) for complex assemblies, detailed design, and engineering documentation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with precision manufacturing processes such as CNC machining, tight-tolerance fabrication, and assembly methods.
- Familiarity with design control processes, PDM systems, and engineering change workflows.
- Experience working within ISO 9001 or similarly structured quality systems; familiarity with lean/5S principles.Background in manufacturing, especially high-mix, low-volume production environments.
The salary range for this role is $110,000-$170,000. Compensation is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and training.
PI (Physik Instrumente), LP is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. Employment is dependent on the results of a background check. We are open to reasonable accommodation - please contact us at [email protected] for consideration.
We are not currently providing work authorization or sponsorship for this opportunity.