Senior Acoustics Engineer

HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and business. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services, and imaging and printing. Our $4 billion annual R&D investment fuels the invention of products, solutions and new technologies so we can better serve customers and enter new markets. We invent, engineer and deliver technology solutions that drive business value, create social value and improve the lives of our customers.

The primary responsibility of the Expert Acoustic Engineer is to develop a technical understanding of the vibro-acoustic behavior of all of the various HP electronic devices under development. The Expert Acoustics Lab engineer would participate in the design process to ensure that new products will be quiet and possess acoustics quality that will please our customers and beat our competitors. In addition to the ability to run and oversee the routine testing performed by the acoustics lab, the Expert Acoustics Engineer will also spend a substantial fraction of time searching out new projects and advising the project team how to engineer good acoustic behavior into the product. This engineer will also be the primary consultant for diagnosing and correcting acoustic problems in prototypes and production products, and so must be capable of exploiting existing acoustic tools and software to full advantage. He or she will be the primary contact for Environmental Stewards working to gain environmental approvals such as Blue Angel, and will be conversant with the acoustic requirements of such standards. The Expert Acoustic Engineer will be on the lookout for new software and test technology which will keep HP on the cutting edge of lab capability and design efficiency. Also the Expert Acoustics Engineer will participate in acoustic committees and conferences to represent HP's interests in influencing national and international standards and test methodologies. Finally, this engineer will explain basic acoustics and the ramifications thereof to design engineers, management, and marketing staff, and take the lead in advocating for quiet, pleasing products at the lowest possible cost.

The Expert Level Acoustics Engineer provides technical leadership in the Acoustics Laboratory and throughout IPG as follows:



Technical

Actively conducts acoustic research and development Directs experiments and research to grow our understanding of electronic device noise sources and transfer paths and how to mitigate them Investigates and/or develops new acoustic analysis and simulation tools Actively participates in design activities from the earliest stages to ensure quiet, pleasing-sounding products with minimum effect on cost and schedule Participates in National and International acoustic standards committees involved in testing and regulating electronic device noise Presents papers on behalf of HP at acoustic society conferences Takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the solution of noise and vibration problems, understanding and advocating the use of other test and analysis techniques such as Modal Analysis and FEA Continually assesses the state-of-the-art in acoustic measurement, analysis, and simulation tools and processes and advises management on changes required to keep pace with emerging technologies

Leadership



Leads the development of and implementation of new acoustic technologies

Leads the use of acoustic quality as program goals

Works pro-actively with product development teams to recognize the importance of and optimize the design for noise and vibration

Identifies, advocates, and champions design directions favorable to good acoustic quality and customer satisfaction

Leads and trains other members of Acoustic Lab staff in technical approaches to the solution of acoustic measurement and diagnosis challenges

Keep abreast of and keep management and co-workers informed of changes to government and environmental organization regulation changes and how they affect product design, marketing and schedules

Work with software tool providers to represent HP's needs and encourage the development of efficient solutions for our lab

Escalate acoustic issues with our products to the appropriate level of management



REQUIREMENTS


The minimum education required for this position is a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering or physics. A strong and varied background in experimental acoustic work is mandatory, and a minimum of 5 years experience in acoustic testing and problem solving is required. While candidates with a B.S. in any of the physical sciences or engineering who have demonstrated exceptional experimentation skills and practical problem solving and "design-for-acoustics" capabilities will be considered, an M.S. or Ph.D in vibration or acoustics would be a plus.



The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the acoustics and current working knowledge of acoustic measurement and diagnostic tools and techniques. Experience with the following tools and techniques are highly desirable: HEAD Acoustics' Artemis hardware and software, Microsoft Office software, modal analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), statistical energy analysis (SEA), or boundary element analysis (BEA), and internal test software tools such as Flextool.



The following personal attributes and skills are essential- an analytical approach to problem solving, laboratory proficiency, excellent written and verbal skills, good teamwork skills, motivational skills, the ability to influence the decisions of managers, practical objectivity and open-mindedness, high self-motivation, curiosity, persistence, integrity, and a desire to learn and educate others.