Lead Mechanical Engineer

The ideal candidate will take ownership of major system components while adapting flexibly as program needs evolve. You'll provide technical leadership across the full development lifecycle: from requirements definition and concept generation through material selection, trade studies, design optimization, detailed design, documentation, and integration testing.

You should bring strong experience in 3D modeling and critical hardware development, with the ability to work independently within cross-functional teams. This role requires a hands-on approach; you'll be actively engaged in lab work and direct hardware interaction.

Essential Functions:

• Ability and desire to take full ownership of tasking while working with limited supervision in a variety of high consequence program activities
• Provide regular communication and briefings, both formally and informally, to internal and external stakeholders, including customer representatives
• Generation of Technical Data Package components (Part and Assembly drawings, etc.)
• Prototype, Integrate, and Test component parts and assemblies
• Develop test plans and procedures for mechanical subsystems
• Perform test and evaluation of component parts and systems
• Participate in peer reviews, PDRs, CDRs, and other required design reviews
• Participate in product change review meetings and discussions and implement changes
• Participate in interdisciplinary design teams and reviews
• Highly organized and detail oriented
• Able to work independently with limited supervision
• Adhere to company processes for product development, configuration management, purchasing, etc.
• Direct Designers/ Technicians/Operators as part of a design team
• Support field testing/demonstration efforts as an ME field representative

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance (or held within the last 2 years)
• Must hold or be able to obtain a favorable polygraph
• Management Experience Required - No
• Minimum Education - Bachelor's Degree
• Willingness to Travel - Occasionally

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Comfortable collecting technical concepts and presenting them to program leadership
• Experience in design or development of precision mechanisms, mechatronic systems, and/or packaging of modules and electronics with considerations of thermal and structural loading and for optimizations of size, weight, and power.
• Proficiency in CAD tools such as Creo and understanding of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standards.
• Experience in additive manufacturing, part optimization, and design for manufacture and assembly a plus.
• Experience with any of the following: actuators, custom gear trains, electro-optical systems, materials testing, and manufacturing processes