iO Associates
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - MWD/LWD/RSS
iO Associates, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - MWD/LWD/RSS
Senior Mechanical Engineer - MWD/LWD/RSS (Houston, TX) We're partnering with a top-tier drilling technology company to hire a
Senior Mechanical Engineer
to lead design and qualification of
MWD/LWD tools and Rotary Steerable Systems (RSS) . You'll own ruggedized mechanical architectures for HP/HT drilling environments - delivering reliability under shock, vibration, and high rotational speeds while meeting tight packaging constraints around sensitive electronics and sensors. What you'll do Lead end-to-end design for
MWD/LWD subs, mud-pulse/EM telemetry modules, sondes, sensor housings, and RSS actuation/mechanisms
(push-the-bit / point-the-bit). Perform structural, fatigue, thermal, and dynamic analysis (rotor-bearing systems, rotary bending, stick-slip/whirl, bit bounce) and correlate with lab/field data. Engineer
pressure housings, feedthroughs, hermetic sealing, potting/encapsulation, vibration isolation, and thermal paths
for electronics in
150-200 °C
and
20k+ psi
service. Design
flow control valves, bypass/dump valves, turbines/PDM interfaces, high-speed bearings & seals , and wear/erosion-resistant features for drilling fluids. Create drawings/BOMs, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), test plans, and design dossiers; lead FMEA/DFR and cross-functional reviews. Support assembly/FAT/SIT, root-cause field issues, and mentor junior engineers. What you'll bring BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering
(or related). 7-12+ years
designing
MWD/LWD or RSS
hardware (sensor collars, telemetry tools, steering mechanisms, rotating assemblies). Proficiency in
SolidWorks or Inventor
and
ANSYS/Abaqus
(linear/nonlinear, fatigue, thermal); strong tolerance analysis & stack-ups. Proven reliability improvements in
HP/HT, high-shock, high-RPM
environments. Hands-on with pressure systems, seals, bearings, plastics/elastomers, and non-mag metallurgy; familiarity with
API Spec 7-1
and related drilling standards. Clear communicator with a track record of leading design reviews and mentoring. Nice to have Experience with
mud-pulse or EM telemetry
design, pulser valves, and turbine/PDM drives. Knowledge of
gamma, resistivity, density, neutron, and azimuthal imaging
packaging constraints. CFD for flow-induced vibration/erosion; coating expertise ( HVOF, WC-Co, DLC, chrome carbide ). Exposure to
downhole electronics integration , potting compounds, and thermal management. Background in
API Q1/Q2 , gated NPI, PPAP, and supplier/process qualification. Why join Build flagship
drilling intelligence & steering
tools used globally - direct line of sight from concept to rig. Agile, empowered team; strong budget for prototyping and test. Competitive base + bonus, excellent benefits, and growth path to
Lead/Principal
or
People Manager . Relocation to
Houston
available for exceptional candidates. Location & work setup Houston, TX (onsite hybrid) . Eligibility US work authorization required - No Sponsorship Available.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Mechanical Engineer - MWD/LWD/RSS (Houston, TX) We're partnering with a top-tier drilling technology company to hire a
Senior Mechanical Engineer
to lead design and qualification of
MWD/LWD tools and Rotary Steerable Systems (RSS) . You'll own ruggedized mechanical architectures for HP/HT drilling environments - delivering reliability under shock, vibration, and high rotational speeds while meeting tight packaging constraints around sensitive electronics and sensors. What you'll do Lead end-to-end design for
MWD/LWD subs, mud-pulse/EM telemetry modules, sondes, sensor housings, and RSS actuation/mechanisms
(push-the-bit / point-the-bit). Perform structural, fatigue, thermal, and dynamic analysis (rotor-bearing systems, rotary bending, stick-slip/whirl, bit bounce) and correlate with lab/field data. Engineer
pressure housings, feedthroughs, hermetic sealing, potting/encapsulation, vibration isolation, and thermal paths
for electronics in
150-200 °C
and
20k+ psi
service. Design
flow control valves, bypass/dump valves, turbines/PDM interfaces, high-speed bearings & seals , and wear/erosion-resistant features for drilling fluids. Create drawings/BOMs, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), test plans, and design dossiers; lead FMEA/DFR and cross-functional reviews. Support assembly/FAT/SIT, root-cause field issues, and mentor junior engineers. What you'll bring BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering
(or related). 7-12+ years
designing
MWD/LWD or RSS
hardware (sensor collars, telemetry tools, steering mechanisms, rotating assemblies). Proficiency in
SolidWorks or Inventor
and
ANSYS/Abaqus
(linear/nonlinear, fatigue, thermal); strong tolerance analysis & stack-ups. Proven reliability improvements in
HP/HT, high-shock, high-RPM
environments. Hands-on with pressure systems, seals, bearings, plastics/elastomers, and non-mag metallurgy; familiarity with
API Spec 7-1
and related drilling standards. Clear communicator with a track record of leading design reviews and mentoring. Nice to have Experience with
mud-pulse or EM telemetry
design, pulser valves, and turbine/PDM drives. Knowledge of
gamma, resistivity, density, neutron, and azimuthal imaging
packaging constraints. CFD for flow-induced vibration/erosion; coating expertise ( HVOF, WC-Co, DLC, chrome carbide ). Exposure to
downhole electronics integration , potting compounds, and thermal management. Background in
API Q1/Q2 , gated NPI, PPAP, and supplier/process qualification. Why join Build flagship
drilling intelligence & steering
tools used globally - direct line of sight from concept to rig. Agile, empowered team; strong budget for prototyping and test. Competitive base + bonus, excellent benefits, and growth path to
Lead/Principal
or
People Manager . Relocation to
Houston
available for exceptional candidates. Location & work setup Houston, TX (onsite hybrid) . Eligibility US work authorization required - No Sponsorship Available.
#J-18808-Ljbffr