Lead, Mechanical Engineer

Lead, Mechanical Engineer
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Work Locations: Palm Bay, Florida | Chantilly, Virginia | Carlsbad, California
Work Schedule: 9/80 schedule — 80 hours over nine working days, with every other Friday off
The Lead, Mechanical Engineer will lead the design, analysis, development, integration, and qualification of precision mechanisms and electromechanical hardware for mission-critical systems.
This role owns major mechanical components and subsystems from early concepts through prototype development, integration, testing, and production transition. The engineer will serve as a subject matter expert, manage complex engineering initiatives with minimal oversight, influence technical approaches, and drive improvements in products, processes, and systems.
The position requires close collaboration with manufacturing, quality, configuration management, suppliers, technicians, and program test teams.
Onsite work is required because of direct involvement in laboratory activities, prototype integration, and hardware testing.
Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design, engineering analysis, prototype integration, and qualification testing for precision mechanisms and electromechanical hardware.
• Develop 3D models, engineering drawings, technical data packages, and assembly documentation.
• Evaluate material selections and engineering design trade-offs.
• Optimize designs for performance, size, weight, power, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Plan and execute component-level and system-level tests, analyze results, and implement design improvements.
• Present technical designs and results during internal and customer reviews, including peer reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs), and Critical Design Reviews (CDRs).
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, configuration management, suppliers, technicians, and program test teams to transition designs into production.
• Support field tests and demonstration activities as required.
• Serve as a subject matter expert with comprehensive knowledge of the assigned engineering area and in-depth project management knowledge.
• Manage large, complex initiatives of substantial organizational importance with minimal supervision.
• Communicate and influence changes to engineering practices, processes, and technical approaches across internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive significant improvements in engineering processes, systems, and products.
• Contribute to new product and process development and implement operational plans with measurable business or functional impact.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 9 years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• Active Top Secret (TS) or Top Secret/SCI security clearance. A clearance active within the last two years will be considered.
• Ability to work onsite at one of the designated locations.
• Experience appropriate to leading mechanical engineering design and development activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience designing, developing, integrating, and testing complex mechanical hardware.
• Experience with 3D mechanical CAD, engineering drawings, tolerance analysis, and GD&T.
• Experience designing precision mechanisms, mechatronic systems, or packaging modules and electronics.
• Knowledge of thermal and structural loading and size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimization.
• Proficiency with CAD tools such as Creo.
• Understanding of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standards.
• Experience with additive manufacturing, part optimization, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA).
• Experience with actuators, custom gear trains, electro-optical systems, materials testing, or manufacturing processes.
• Favorable polygraph.

Work Environment: This is an onsite engineering role involving office and laboratory work, prototype development, hardware integration, qualification testing, and collaboration with cross-functional engineering and production teams.