Company:
WaveRyde Instruments is growing its technical team to develop quantum sensor systems for 5G applications. A spin-off from Quantum Valley Ideas Laboratories (QVIL), WaveRyde benefits from strong support from QVIL and leaders in the wireless industry. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, near Toronto, the company is in the heart of Canada’s Quantum Valley, with strong academic research and technology communities and outstanding universities. Its team includes pioneering leaders in quantum sensors and wireless technologies.
About the role:
WaveRyde Instruments is seeking a senior mechanical engineer to support ongoing R&D and improve advanced instruments as we grow low-volume production. The core of this hands-on role is mechanical design in SolidWorks, instrument testing, weight reduction, and design improvements verified through retesting.
You will work closely with scientists, electronics and optical engineers, manufacturing staff, suppliers, and external test laboratories. You will also help turn evolving designs into repeatable builds by creating clear assembly, inspection, and test procedures.
Mechanical development and testing:
· Work with the R&D team to turn evolving requirements into practical mechanical solutions. Build and modify prototypes and test fixtures to evaluate concepts and resolve engineering questions.
· Design and update enclosures, brackets, standoffs, component mounts, and assembly fixtures in SolidWorks. Develop practical layouts for electronic and optical components, including cable and fibre routing, strain relief, access, and serviceability.
· Identify and implement opportunities to reduce instrument weight through material selection, enclosure and mounting design, and simpler assemblies. Verify that changes meet requirements for stiffness, durability, thermal performance, and instrument function.
· Select materials, fasteners, finishes, and manufacturing processes; prepare 3D assemblies and production drawings with appropriate dimensions, tolerances, and bills of materials.
· Plan and carry out development and qualification testing, including MIL-STD-810 compliance and testing against applicable requirements. Cover shock, vibration, temperature, humidity, and other environmental exposures relevant to the instrument.
· Develop test plans, fixtures, instrumentation, and procedures with defined acceptance criteria. Coordinate external testing and verify instrument performance before, during, and after exposure where required.
· Develop protective shipping arrangements and qualify the packaged instrument for applicable shipping and transport conditions, including handling, drop, shock, and vibration testing.
· Analyse results, investigate failures, implement mechanical design improvements, and verify corrective changes through retesting. Maintain test reports and traceability to the design revision and requirements tested.
· Work with the wider engineering team on thermal management, environmental protection, mechanical interfaces, and applicable product compliance activities. Communicate test findings, design trade-offs, and technical risks.
Low volume manufacturing support:
· Support prototype and low-volume production builds while R&D continues. Apply design for manufacturability, assembly, and test (DFM, DFA, and DFT) to improve quality and build repeatability while supporting gradual increases in production.
· Create and maintain standard operating procedures, assembly work instructions, inspection criteria, test methods, and build records with the engineering and manufacturing teams.
· Help establish workstations, assembly and test fixtures, tooling, and equipment needs. Support appropriate handling practices and equipment calibration, and train technicians in the procedures you develop.
· Help write, improve, and follow procedures for design and manufacturing changes, including review, approval, updates to drawings, bills of materials, and work instructions, and communication with affected teams and suppliers.
· Resolve fabrication, assembly, and test issues with suppliers and internal teams. Balance development priorities with current build needs and support the release of repeatable manufacturing processes.
Required experience:
· Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, with typically 8 or more years of relevant product development experience and a record of independently delivering mechanical designs and verifying their performance through testing.
· Strong, current SolidWorks skills, including parts, assemblies, detailed drawings, and practical tolerance analysis. Experience designing enclosures and mechanical assemblies for electronic instruments or comparable equipment.
· Proficient in MIL-STD-810 standards compliance and testing. Hands-on experience with shock, vibration, environmental testing, and shipping or transport qualification against applicable requirements.
· Hands-on experience supporting R&D, developing test plans and fixtures, interpreting results, and investigating failures. Ability to revise designs based on testing and verify that the changes solve the problem.
· Experience supporting prototype or low-volume production builds, applying DFM and DFA, and writing clear assembly, inspection, and test procedures that others can follow.
· Ability to help develop and follow practical procedures for document control and the review, approval, and implementation of design or manufacturing changes.
· Ability to work independently at the bench and in CAD, collaborate across engineering disciplines, and manage changing priorities while maintaining clear documentation.
Useful additional experience:
Experience with new product introduction (NPI), including pilot builds or transfer into production, would be an asset.
Mechanical integration of optical components or fibre assemblies; SolidWorks PDM or similar document control systems; thermal or structural analysis; and helping establish a manufacturing or test area in a growing hardware business.
Position details:
Compensation: CAD $120,000–$150,000 per year, depending on seniority and experience.
- Travel: Primarily local travel to vendors, suppliers, third-party manufacturers, and test laboratories, with occasional trips to Toronto or Ottawa.
