Machine Designer

To apply, see the Machine Designer Application Form

Introduction

• Description: We are looking for a seasoned professional to leader of our machine design program to lead the design aspect of GVCS machine prototypes - from concept, CAD design, and engineering design according to OSE Specifications. Unique opportunity with innovative open source hardware development organization. See also Master Prototyper and Machine Designer Invitation.
• Date of Recruiting Announcement - 8/25/12
• No. of Positions: 1
• City: Maysville
• Country / State: USA / Missouri
• Enterprise: Open Source Ecology
• Job Title Suffix: Design Director

Role

The core of the Machine Designer role is design of GVCS machines. This includes conceptual, CAD, and CAE design/analysis of mechanical, hydraulic, and mechatronic machines. The Machine Designer also engages in:

• Specifies an open source CAD solution. We are interested in leading the crowd-funding of such a project. Development is expected to be 1 year for Beta release with a team of 4 full-time programmers.
• Works closely with the Master Prototyper and the fabrication team.
• Strategic development and setting of standards towards design of the GVCS as an ecology of products where parts and modules interchange
• Focusing on design-for-fabrication, test-driven design
• Design and documentation of design-for-fabrication tool chains
• Generating Bills of Materials, estimating costs, submitting bids for engineering or construction projects, and preparing contract documents
• Generation of Fabrication Diagrams for the fabrication team
• Reports to Founding Director (FD) and executes development priorities set by the FD
• Assists FD in strategy on issues of design optimization
• Collaborates with other team members on documentation, planning, field testing, and other common activities
• Performs planning, review, and reporting process on Flashy XM platform according to Planning and Review Strategy (in development)
• Leads Flash Mob teams in crowd design sessions
• Develops fabrication procedures according to Fabrication Diagram method; develops Fabrication Diagram methodology
• Performs quality control of design work
• Trains apprentices and team members in machine design
• Coordinates with remote development teams (including design Flash Mobs) to design prototypes and components thereof
• Instills a sense of pride in excellence and inspires others towards mastery
• Crafts strategies for scaling CAD design efforts to a much greater community of intrinsically-motivated designers
• Advises the Director of Learning in developing curriculum covering machine design
• Designs processes with intent of cross-training of others in mind
• Participates in group work days from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturdays

Basic Terms

• Must live on-site at Factor e Farm (accommodations and fast internet are provided, applicant covers their own food) and follow Factor e Farm General Guidelines
• Full time commitment (no outside jobs or telecommuting unless specifically negotiated)
• Applicant covers travel to and from FeF, and any insurance needs
• Financial compensation based on risk-sharing, experience, and culture fit
• Biweekly blog posting on the Factor e Farm Blog according to FeF Blogging Standards
• Alignment with open source culture, and openness to lifelong learning

Skill Set Requirements

Basic Requirements

• Professional (or equivalent) experience in machine design of mechanical, hydraulic, precision machine, and mechatronic systems. Excellent practical sense in machine design, technical drawing, and CAD
• Design of CAM, automation, and robotic systems
• Experience with design-for-fabrication, design-for-disassembly, design-for-manufacturability, modular design
• Fabrication and machining experience
• Hydraulic power system design and build
• Excellent working knowledge of mechanisms, mechanics, electromechanical devices, and mechatronics
• Excellent working knowledge of CAD systems to generate Bills of Materials, Exploded Parts Diagrams, Animations, CAE analysis, Isometric drawings, fabrication and assembly drawings
• Ability to produce Systems Engineering Breakdown Diagrams and to define component interface designs
• Working knowledge of G, D, & T
• Excellent working knowledge of engines, engine repair, and electrical wiring
• Experience with creating bills of materials, sourcing, bidding, and preparation of work contracts
• Experience in heavy machine operation
• Excellent communication skills and technical writing ability to communicate complex design to a wide audience
• Ability to carry out performance calculations

Desired Experience

• Power electronics design and fabrication
• Hot metal processing systems design
• Electrical generator design and fabrication
• Gear design and fabrication
• Hydraulic motor design
• Engine design
• Tool and die design
• Metallurgy and alloying
• Metal casting
• Teaching experience
• Project management and startup entrepreneurship
• Agricultural machinery and heavy equipment design
• Farming
• Construction

Requirements

The MP must be able to:

• Follow instructions from superiors, take initiative as necessary, and have the wisdom to understand the difference between the two
• Develop and implement standards for open, collaborative CAD design
• Work with both proprietary CAD tools and open source/free software
• Work with other engineering and documentation team members
• Manage interruptions and organize collaborators to meet monthly design schedules
• Manage Flash Mobs for CAD deign
• Be responsible for sound judgment
• Ask questions when uncertain or blocked
• Work with minimum supervision or work closely with teams on a schedule on teams
• Be in good physical condition
• Have excellent communication skills
• Teach apprentices
• Provide leadership and inspiration to apprentices