Associate Engineer – Tape Drive Mechatronics, Servo Systems & Robotics

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Under the guidance of senior engineers, the Associate Engineer will contribute to the design, analysis, testing, and improvement of tape drive and robotic storage systems. Responsibilities include: * Support development and testing of precision electromechanical systems used in tape drives and robotic storage products. * Assist in characterization of tape transport dynamics, motion control performance, and mechanical system behavior. * Contribute to development and optimization of servo control systems for positioning, motion, and tension-control applications. * Analyze motor-control systems including brushless DC motors, voice coil actuators, encoders, sensors, and feedback systems. * Apply digital signal processing techniques to measurement systems, diagnostics, filtering, and control applications. * Develop mathematical models and simulations to better understand system performance. * Design and execute engineering experiments and collect performance data. * Use Python and other engineering tools to analyze data, automate tests, and generate reports. * Apply statistical methods to evaluate product performance, reliability, and manufacturing variation. * Investigate product issues through structured root-cause analysis techniques. * Analyze telemetry and large engineering datasets to identify trends and performance correlations. * Support development of predictive analytics and machine-learning methods for reliability and performance analysis. * Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, firmware, recording, robotics, and manufacturing engineers. * Document test procedures, analytical methods, technical findings, and lessons learned. * Present technical results clearly to engineering teams and stakeholders. * Continuously develop subject-matter expertise in tape storage technologies and automation systems. REQUIRED EDUCATION M.S. or Ph.D. preferred in one of the following fields: * Mechanical Engineering * Mechatronics Engineering * Electrical Engineering * Robotics Engineering * Control Systems Engineering * Electromechanical Engineering * Applied Physics * Related Engineering Discipline Strong B.S. candidates with relevant internships, research, co-op experience, or project work may also be considered. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate demonstrates: * Strong engineering fundamentals and analytical thinking * Curiosity and desire to learn complex technologies * Ability to connect theory, modeling, and experimental results * Experience with Python, MATLAB, or similar technical computing tools * Exposure to controls, robotics, signal processing, motion systems, data analytics, or reliability engineering * Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills * Strong written and verbal communication skills * Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering teams PREFERRED EXPERIENCE Exposure through research, internships, graduate projects, or employment in one or more of the following areas is desirable: * Robotics and automation * Motion control and servo systems * Mechatronics * Digital signal processing * Applied statistics and data analytics * Machine learning * Semiconductor equipment * Hard disk drives or storage systems * Precision instrumentation and measurement systems * Laboratory testing and engineering experimentation