Design Engineer Jobs in Cambridge, MA
Design Engineer jobs in Cambridge draw heavily from the city's biotech and life sciences corridor, advanced hardware and robotics firms, and university-linked R&D labs centered in Kendall Square, East Cambridge, and the MIT area. Employers actively hiring include Draper, RTX, and LangChain. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Overview:
Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.
Job Description Summary:
As a Senior Electromagnetic Design Engineer in the Electro-Mechanical Instruments Group at Draper, you will play a critical role in the development of Electro-Mechanical inertial instruments for cutting-edge guidance applications building on Draper’s long legacy. You will lead the design of next generation miniaturized motors and resolvers that will power and control guidance applications ranging from the nation’s largest ballistic missiles to miniature guided munitions.
You will work closely with a team of engineers and physicists to build next-generation gyroscope, accelerometer, and guidance-aiding sensor prototypes, characterize their performance, develop production roll-out and ultimately deliver production hardened systems meeting some of the world’s most stringent requirements. You will also be a key leader in the development of our junior engineering staff as a mentor and technical leader in a fast-paced, technically challenging environment.
The ideal candidate is expected to be a subject matter expert in the design of high-precision torque motors, resolver, and other electro-magnetic devices for fielded, real-world applications. You will develop/evolve in-house electric motor and resolver design tools, analytical models, and electromagnetic simulations and analysis to advance Draper’s technology and design capabilities. You will work with in-house and external teams to prototype designs and perform motor dynamometer testing for characterization and fault analysis. You will also develop motor control simulation models and support motor control firmware development. Experience in the design and integration of power electronics for EM applications is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will possess a history of hands-on design/build skills, experience rolling out designs to a manufacturing environment and the ability and desire to mentor junior engineers.
Qualifications
- Academic or Industry specialization in electromagnetics is required
- Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering Physics or similar field preferred, though strong candidates with bachelor’s degrees and proven industry experience will be considered.
- 5-10 years of technical experience in a relevant industry or research environment preferred
- Must be highly self-motivated and must thrive in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Ability and interest in mentoring students and junior engineers
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Track record of inventiveness and technical leadership
Duties/Responsibilities
- Drive solutions to complex problems with limited direction to design and develop precision instruments.
- Actively mentor less experienced Hardware Instrument engineers.
- Designs experiments, and experimental precision instruments to prove which design concepts are viable and optimal.
- Collaborates with other engineers to design and develop prototype and production hardware to meet the application needs.
- Collaborates with other groups to integrate precision instruments into larger systems, delivering on performance metrics.
- Develops initial processes for the fabrication of custom designed instruments.
- Drafts and presents formal technical documents, reports, and testing results to manager for approval.
- Provides training related to devices to employees, sub-contractors and/or customers.
- Performs independent research when needed for solving problems.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Understanding of the design, development, and application of a wide variety of instruments.
- Understanding of the processes used in the fabrication of precision instrument hardware.
- Thorough understanding of applied math and physics.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Proficient with general modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB, computer-aided design (CAD) software, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, and/or other design & analysis tools relevant to your discipline.
Education
Requires a bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Applied Physics, Electrical or Computer Engineering required; Masters or PhD degree preferred.
Experience
Requires 5-10 years of experience in Hardware Instrument Engineering or related.
Job Location - City:
Cambridge
Job Location - State:
Massachusetts
Job Location - Postal Code:
02139-3563
The US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $220,000.00. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.
Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now.
Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.
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Find Design Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Job Market in Cambridge
Who's Hiring
- Draper117

- RTX15

- LangChain15

- Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences15

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Design Engineer Jobs in Cambridge: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design engineer job in Cambridge?
Focus your search on Kendall Square and East Cambridge, where biotech, medtech, and hardware companies concentrate most of their engineering headcount. Candidates who do well here typically show hands-on experience with CAD tools, prototyping, or product development cycles relevant to life sciences or advanced manufacturing. Familiarity with the university-to-industry pipeline, through co-ops, research labs, or MIT and Harvard-adjacent startups, gives applicants a visible edge in this market.
Which companies hire design engineers in Cambridge?
Employers hiring design engineers in Cambridge right now include Draper, RTX, and LangChain, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Cambridge's employer mix skews toward growth-stage biotech companies, established medical device makers, and hardware-focused startups with close ties to local research institutions.
Are there remote design engineer jobs in Cambridge?
Yes, though design engineering is largely hands-on, so fully remote roles are less common than in purely software-driven fields. About 50% of design engineer openings tied to Cambridge are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common for roles where CAD work and design reviews can be done off-site while prototyping and testing require lab or shop access.
How can I get a design engineer job in Cambridge with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Cambridge is through co-op or internship programs at Kendall Square biotech and medtech companies, many of which recruit from MIT, Northeastern, and other regional engineering schools. Entry-level titles like junior mechanical engineer, product development associate, or R&D technician are common stepping stones. Building a portfolio with CAD models, prototypes, or school-project documentation makes a concrete difference when competing for roles at Cambridge's hardware and life sciences employers.
Which industries hire the most design engineers in Cambridge?
Most design engineer openings in Cambridge sit in Consulting & Professional Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Cambridge's concentration of biotech headquarters, medical device manufacturers, and university-linked hardware ventures makes those sectors the dominant source of local design engineering demand.
Related Jobs in Massachusetts
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