Sr. Model Based CAD and Characterization Applications Engineer

Akkodis is seeking a Senior Model-Based CAD and Characterization Applications Engineer for a contract job in Costa Mesa, California. This position requires deep, hands-on Siemens NX experience developing and governing model-based design standards across design, manufacturing, quality, tooling, inspection, and sustainment environments. The engineer will define NX modeling standards, semantic PMI practices, characterization schemas, presentation states, and automated conformance checks that allow a single product definition to support downstream engineering and manufacturing processes.

Salary Range: $135/hour. The salary may be negotiable based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors.

Senior Model-Based CAD and Characterization Applications Engineer job responsibilities include:

• Author and maintain Siemens NX standards for model structure, assembly organization, annotations, attributes, semantic PMI, model views, and presentation states.
• Establish model-based design practices aligned with ASME Y14.5, Y14.41, and Y14.47.
• Partner with design, manufacturing, quality, tooling, CAM, CAI, equipment, and aftermarket engineering teams to define model requirements for each domain.
• Translate technical working sessions into written, governed, and reviewable model standards and requirements.
• Define model-completeness criteria and develop automated conformance checks that produce clear pass-or-fail results.
• Build and maintain characterization schemas covering product, manufacturing, assembly, service, and process characteristics.
• Define attribute sets, data models, and traceability rules connecting product models with manufacturing, inspection, and service data.
• Specify how model and characterization data move through STEP AP242, QIF, and JT into downstream systems.
• Identify technology gaps affecting model-based execution and develop implementation-ready requirements for supporting tools teams.
• Assess model-based enterprise maturity and develop sequenced roadmaps for improving standards, processes, and adoption.
• Create and deliver technical training for design, manufacturing, quality, supplier, and sustainment engineering teams.
• Represent model-based engineering practices during design reviews, supplier assessments, and tool evaluations.
• Maintain standards as products, programs, consuming domains, and engineering toolsets evolve.

Desired Qualifications:

• 8 or more years of experience in design engineering, manufacturing engineering, CAD applications, or a related engineering discipline.
• Recent experience developing, implementing, and governing Siemens NX modeling standards.
• Deep hands-on Siemens NX proficiency, including PMI authoring, model views, presentation states, attribute schemas, and assembly structures.
• Working knowledge of ASME Y14.5, Y14.41, and Y14.47.
• Experience defining model standards across multiple engineering domains, including design, manufacturing, quality, CAM, tooling, or sustainment.
• Understanding of model-based characteristics, including how characteristics originate in a product model and trace through manufacturing and inspection.
• Experience writing procedures, work instructions, method sheets, or other engineering standards maintained under change control.
• Working knowledge of Siemens Teamcenter, including datasets, item revisions, release states, attributes, and object-level metadata.
• Ability to lead structured technical elicitation sessions and translate domain requirements into written standards.
• Experience with STEP AP242, QIF, JT, NX Open, NX Check-Mate, NX CAM, Mastercam, or CAI programming is preferred.
• Experience in shipbuilding, aerospace, defense, complex discrete manufacturing, or another environment with multi-level bills of material is preferred.
• Exposure to the DMSC Model Based Characteristics standard, NSE MBE Maturity Index, digital-twin methods, AS9100, NIST 800-171, or CMMC is preferred.
• U.S. Person status required.
• Ability to work onsite in Costa Mesa, California. Remote exceptions may be considered at management’s discretion for exceptional candidates.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, an EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable. Disclaimer: These benefit offerings do not apply to client-recruited jobs and jobs that are direct hires to a client.

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit https://www.akkodis.com/en/privacy-policy.

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable: · The California Fair Chance Act · Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance · Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers · San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pay Details: $135.00 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://www.akkodis.com/en/us/candidate-privacy-policy

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.