iO Associates
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - MWD/LWD/RSS
iO Associates, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
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 Avaliable
Apply / Refer
Apply now. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a confidential discussion.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 Avaliable
Apply / Refer
Apply now. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a confidential discussion.
#J-18808-Ljbffr