Requisition Number: 29065
Required Travel: 0 - 10%
Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt
Anticipated Salary Range: $101,354.00 - $165,000.00
Security Clearance: Ability to Obtain
Level of Experience: Senior
This opportunity resides with
Warfare Systems (WS), a business group within HII's Mission Technologies division. Warfare Systems comprises cyber and mission IT; electronic warfare; and C5ISR systems.
Job DescriptionHII, Mission Technologies has an opportunity available for a
Lead Mechanical Engineer located in Knoxville, TN.
The Lead Mechanical Engineer will lead and direct the design, development, and integration of advanced mechanical systems that support high-energy laser and high-power microwave directed energy platforms. This role ensures that mechanical designs-including structural components, thermal management systems, precision assemblies, and packaging solutions-translate into safe, functional, and production-ready hardware that meets stringent performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
The ideal candidate will excel at computer-aided mechanical engineering design, demonstrate leadership in collaborative multidisciplinary environments, and thrive when developing solutions with incomplete or evolving requirements typical of advanced defense programs.
Essential Job ResponsibilitiesDesign & Engineering Leadership
- Lead computer-aided mechanical engineering design for structural components, power electronics, thermal management systems, precision optical mounts, and mechanical assemblies critical to directed energy platforms.
- Direct design efforts for structural components, thermal management systems, precision optical mounts, mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies critical to directed energy platforms.
- Contribute to and influence overall product design for directed energy weapon systems.
- Translate requirements into polished 2D/3D CAD models using SolidWorks.
- Perform and oversee fundamental engineering analysis (stress, thermal, vibration, fluid dynamics).
- Support and oversee fabrication, assembly, and testing of mechanical systems and prototypes.
- Mentor and develop junior engineers, providing guidance on technical and professional growth.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration & Systems Integration
- Lead collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions and influence product architecture.
- Negotiate design characteristics among engineers, suppliers, customers and program management.
- Interface with manufacturing to optimize designs for fabrication.
- Support fabrication, testing, and validation efforts to ensure systems meet performance requirements.
Risk Management & Problem Solving
- Identify, articulate, and manage risks across mechanical, structural, and thermal systems.
- Solve complex engineering problems in fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.
- Lead design reviews and DFMEA, serving as technical escalation point.
Technical Documentation & Configuration Leadership
- Create and approve engineering drawings with GD&T, design documentation, and technical specifications.
- Lead configuration management using SolidWorks PDM.
- Review and approve documentation from junior team members.
Stakeholder Communication & Program Leadership
- Communicate effectively with government customers, leadership, and technical experts.
- Manage relationships with vendors, partners, and stakeholders.
- Drive continuous improvement in design quality, efficiency, and manufacturability.
Minimum Qualifications- 9 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; or 4 years relevant experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field.
- High-level of proficiency in SolidWorks CAD for complex assemblies and systems.
- Extensive experience with GD&T, creating manufacturing-ready drawings, and DFM principles.
- Ability to translate requirements into tasks and completed designs
- Ability to perform fundamental analysis working from first principles
- Demonstrated technical leadership driving results in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
- Experience in creating DFMEA
- Experience managing tasks within budgets
- Experience with fabrication, manufacturing methods, and hands-on prototyping.
- Proven leadership mentoring and developing engineers across all levels
- SolidWorks PDM and configuration management experience.
- Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET level security clearance.
Preferred Requirements- FEA/CFD experience with complex analysis and optimization.
- Proficiency with MATLAB and ANSYS for modeling and simulation.
- Deep thermal management expertise for high-power applications.
- Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent certification.
- Clearance: Active SECRET level security clearance.
The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.
