Job Description

Description

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 500+ passionate team members.

What You’ll Do:

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for leading the design and the development of connected pet care products, utilizing CAD software to create mechanical designs and will be a part of a team exploring developing concepts through prototyping and into mass-production consumer electronics. The Senior Mechanical Engineer will work as part of a cross-functional team requiring collaboration and curiosity in domains other than mechanical engineering and will utilize strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, first principles, prototyping skills, CAD fluency, manufacturing process knowledge, and experience designing consumer electronics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Actively participates in the mechanical engineering team in the design and development of innovative products, coordinating efforts to meet project timelines, quality standards and cost objectives.
• Approaches product design with a high level of rigor and first principles.
• Utilizes Creo CAD software to develop plastic injection molded parts as well as complex mechanical designs ensuring precision, functionality and adherence to project specifications. 
• Works with Electrical Engineers to integrate circuit board assemblies and hardware into the product effectively.
• Continuously evaluates and optimizes mechanical designs for efficiency, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness, leveraging own expertise in materials, manufacturing processes and design best practices along with the knowledge of tooling engineers and suppliers. 
• Develops and maintains comprehensive documentation, including design specifications, technical drawings and engineering documentation. 
• Demonstrates systems-thinking mentality to understand how other engineering disciplines integrate together to achieve product requirements.
• Conducts benchmarking research and creates design proposals for projects.
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required 

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering
• 5+ years of industry experience in mechanical design
• 3+ years of experience using Creo CAD for design of consumer products
• Experience in Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), statistical tolerance analysis techniques, GD&T, and 3D/2D CAD (Creo, NX, Solidworks)
• Working knowledge in material properties, such as plastics, metal, adhesive, etc
• Testing and analysis experience (FEA, Simulation, Design of Experiments, etc.)
• Knowledge of high-volume manufacturing techniques (stamping, machining, injection molding, etc.)
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, ability to motivate others and able to work with a degree of uncertainty
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs) 

Not Required but nice to have:

• 8+ years of consumer product design experience, including full systems ownership
• 6+ years of experience using Creo CAD and Windchill administration
• Experience with system integration, including electro-mechanical components (e.g., audio, display, camera, antenna, PCBA’s), waterproofing, thermals, grounding, or product architecture
• Experience collaborating with suppliers around the world on part manufacturing and final assembly, including onsite factory support
• Experience shipping multiple consumer products in an engineering role

Benefits & Purrks: 

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance 
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts 
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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