Job PurposeThe Lead Mechanical Engineer serves as the technical leader for the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of advanced mechanical systems and products supporting commercial, industrial, and defense applications. This role leads complex engineering initiatives from concept through production, providing technical direction to engineering teams while collaborating closely with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, program management, and customers. The Lead Mechanical Engineer drives innovation, ensures compliance with applicable engineering standards, and develops reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions that meet demanding customer and operational requirements.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEssential Duties & Responsibilities- Lead the mechanical design and development of complex products and systems from concept through production using advanced CAD software, including Autodesk Inventor, while ensuring compliance with ASME standards and engineering best practices.
- Serve as the technical lead on new product development initiatives, providing engineering guidance, reviewing designs, resolving technical challenges, and mentoring junior engineers throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Develop detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, assemblies, tolerance analyses, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) required for manufacturing, testing, and customer deliverables.
- Perform and oversee engineering analyses including finite element analysis (FEA), structural analysis, thermal modeling, vibration analysis, reliability assessments, and other simulation methods to validate design performance.
- Lead design reviews, engineering risk assessments, and failure investigations to ensure products meet performance, reliability, manufacturability, and quality objectives.
- Drive rapid prototyping efforts, coordinate laboratory and field testing, evaluate test data, and implement design improvements based on engineering analysis and customer feedback.
- Collaborate closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to optimize products for manufacturability (DFM), assembly (DFA), cost, serviceability, and production scalability.
- Partner with suppliers and external engineering resources to evaluate components, resolve technical issues, and improve supplier performance related to quality, manufacturability, and delivery.
- Interface directly with customers to understand technical requirements, present engineering concepts, support design reviews, and resolve complex technical issues.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation including technical specifications, design reports, engineering change documentation (ECOs), validation reports, manufacturing instructions, and technical manuals.
- Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, military specifications, customer requirements, and regulatory requirements throughout the product development process.
- Identify opportunities for new technologies, materials, manufacturing methods, and engineering tools that improve product performance, reliability, quality, and cost competitiveness.
- Provide technical mentorship and coaching to engineers and designers by reviewing work, sharing best practices, and promoting engineering excellence across the organization.
- Support proposal development, cost estimating, technical planning, and strategic engineering initiatives as required.
QualificationsRequired- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- 8+ years of progressive mechanical design and product development experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex mechanical design projects from concept through production release.
- Expert proficiency with Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, or equivalent 3D CAD software.
- Strong knowledge of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and engineering drawing standards.
- Experience performing Finite Element Analysis (FEA), structural analysis, and engineering simulations.
- Experience designing products for manufacturability (DFM) and assembly (DFA).
- Experience developing production-ready engineering documentation, Bills of Materials, and Engineering Change Orders.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including machining, fabrication, welding, sheet metal, casting, and assembly.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical discussions, solve complex engineering problems, and influence cross-functional teams.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
Preferred- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or military programs.
- Experience with thermal management, heat transfer, and cooling system design.
- Experience with environmental qualification testing and reliability engineering.
- Knowledge of MIL-STD requirements and military specifications.
- Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Product Data Management (PDM) systems.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Project leadership experience in a matrixed engineering environment.
Competencies- Technical Leadership
- Mechanical Design Excellence
- Systems Thinking
- Engineering Analysis
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Project Execution
- Decision Making
- Problem Solving
- Customer Focus
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Communication & Influence
- Accountability
- Attention to Detail
General Job Requirements 
