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Bascom Hunter is an aerospace and defense contractor delivering advanced electromechanical systems and engineering solutions to the Department of Defense and prime contractors. We design and build mission-critical hardware where reliability, precision, and performance are non-negotiable.
Position Summary
Bascom Hunter is seeking a Principal Motor Design Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and development of electric motors and electromechanical actuation systems for demanding aerospace and defense applications. This role serves as the senior technical authority for motor design within the engineering organization, with particular emphasis on 400 Hz AC motors, permanent magnet AC (PMAC) motors, and permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motors used in military and aerospace platforms. The role drives innovation from concept through qualification while mentoring junior and mid-level engineers. The ideal candidate combines deep electromagnetic design expertise with hands-on experience taking motor designs through prototyping, testing, and production for high-reliability applications.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of 400 Hz AC, permanent magnet AC (PMAC), permanent magnet DC (PMDC), brushless DC, and other specialty motors for aerospace and defense applications, from requirements definition through production release.
- Design motors and drive interfaces compatible with 400 Hz aircraft power systems, ensuring compliance with relevant aerospace power quality and interface standards (e.g., MIL-STD-704).
- Perform electromagnetic design and analysis, including finite element analysis (FEA), thermal modeling, and performance simulation using tools such as ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or equivalent.
- Develop detailed motor specifications, drawings, and design documentation compliant with military and aerospace standards (e.g., MIL-STD, AS9100).
- Drive trade studies on winding topology, magnetic circuit design, materials selection, and thermal management to optimize power density, efficiency, and reliability.
- Oversee prototype build, bench testing, environmental qualification, and failure analysis; translate test data into design refinements.
- Serve as the principal technical point of contact for motor design reviews with customers, primes, and government stakeholders.
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior and mid-level motor/electromechanical design engineers.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, systems, and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure integrated system performance.
- Support proposal development, technical volumes, and rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimates for new business opportunities.
- Ensure designs meet program requirements for size, weight, power (SWaP), reliability, EMI/EMC, and environmental survivability (vibration, shock, thermal extremes).
- Ensure compliance with applicable export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) and handle all technical data in accordance with company policy and Bascom Hunter's information handling requirements.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
- 10+ years of experience in motor design and electromagnetic engineering, with significant experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries.
- Demonstrated expertise in electric motor design principles, including magnetic circuit analysis, winding design, and thermal management.
- Direct hands-on experience designing 400 Hz AC motors, PMAC motors, and PMDC motors, including prior work on aircraft or military platforms using 400 Hz power systems.
- Hands-on proficiency with electromagnetic FEA tools (ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, JMAG, or similar).
- Experience taking designs through the full lifecycle: concept, detailed design, prototyping, test, and production transition.
- Working knowledge of relevant military/aerospace standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, AS9100, etc.).
- Strong understanding of motor control fundamentals and interaction with drive electronics.
- Excellent technical writing and communication skills, with experience presenting to customers and government stakeholders.
- Must be a U.S. Person; ability to obtain and maintain a [Secret/DoD-appropriate] security clearance. This position may require access to export-controlled technical data (ITAR/EAR).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with actuator systems, gearboxes, or integrated electromechanical actuation (EMA) assemblies.
- Familiarity with functional safety and reliability engineering practices (FMEA, FMECA, reliability growth testing).
- Prior experience supporting DoD or NASA programs, including formal design reviews (PDR/CDR) and qualification testing.
- Active DoD security clearance.
- Experience mentoring engineering teams or leading small technical groups.
Physical/Work Environment
- May require occasional travel to customer sites, test facilities, or supplier locations.
- Standard office/lab/production environment; some exposure to lab and manufacturing floor settings.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Bascom Hunter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
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