Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering and structural testing.
Strong knowledge of mechanics of materials and structural integrity.
Hands-on experience with mechanical or structural test plans.
Familiarity with test instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
Experience with environmental testing variables relevant to Navy applications.
Active Secret security clearance required.
Responsibilities
Conduct structural integrity testing on various materials and components.
Develop and execute comprehensive laboratory and field test plans.
Design experimental methods and test matrices for mechanical testing.
Set up and troubleshoot mechanical test systems and instrumentation.
Analyze test data to identify performance trends and failure mechanisms.
Support failure analysis using various analytical techniques.
Prepare detailed documentation of test methods and results.
Benefits
Opportunity to work on Navy-relevant projects.
Hands-on experience with cutting-edge testing technologies.
Collaborative work environment with a focus on research and development.
Potential for career advancement within a specialized field.
Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
Full Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION/DUTIES: The Mechanical Engineer will perform hands-on scientific and engineering work supporting NRL mechanical engineering and structural integrity research. The position focuses on designing and executing mechanical and environmental tests, characterizing material and component performance, developing experimental fixtures and test systems, instrumenting and validating test setups, analyzing mechanical response and failure behavior, and documenting technically defensible findings for Navy applications.
Conduct structural integrity testing of metallic alloys, non-metallic materials, bearings, machinery components, and other Navy-relevant hardware to characterize durability, fatigue, static stiffness, dynamic stiffness, strength, wear, and related mechanical properties.
Develop and execute laboratory and field test plans that incorporate representative operational variables such as seawater or periodic sea-spray exposure, temperature, load, cyclic loading, vibration, stress, strain, and other environmental or mechanical conditions.
Design experimental methods, test matrices, fixtures, loading schemes, instrumentation layouts, acceptance criteria, and data-acquisition approaches for mechanical and structural test programs.
Set up, instrument, calibrate, validate, and troubleshoot mechanical test systems, sensors, load cells, strain measurement devices, displacement sensors, environmental chambers, data-acquisition hardware, and associated control systems.
Perform fatigue, durability, stiffness, load-response, environmental exposure, and failure testing on materials and components under controlled and Navy-relevant service conditions.
Evaluate the effects of material selection, fabrication methods, heat treatment, welding, bonding, fastening, adhesives, additive manufacturing, surface modification, wear, and other manufacturing or mechanical processes on structural performance and degradation.
Support characterization of mechanical properties before, during, and after environmental exposure to quantify changes in strength, stiffness, fatigue resistance, wear, degradation, or failure behavior.
Analyze test data using engineering, statistical, and numerical methods to identify performance trends, failure mechanisms, fatigue behavior, degradation rates, service-life implications, and design or material improvement opportunities.
Conduct or support failure analysis of tested materials and components using visual examination, dimensional inspection, fracture-surface evaluation, microscopy, metallography, and other applicable analytical techniques.
Design, fabricate, modify, and evaluate experimental platforms, test beds, fixtures, mockups, machinery, piping systems, and simulated environments needed to reproduce Navy operating conditions and support mechanical RDT&E.
Use engineering software and analytical tools such as MATLAB, Python, SolidWorks, Abaqus, COMSOL, or comparable platforms for data reduction, modeling, plotting, design evaluation, and interpretation of test results.
Support development and evaluation of bearings, rotating components, structural materials, marine hardware, and other mechanical systems intended to improve durability, readiness, maintainability, and service life of Navy platforms.
Perform laboratory, waterfront, shipboard, shipyard, and field testing as required, including installation, operation, inspection, and data collection on experimental or prototype systems.
Apply applicable Navy, DoD, ASTM, ASME, laboratory, and other technical standards, test methods, specifications, and quality requirements when preparing tests and evaluating results.
Maintain rigorous test documentation, configuration records, calibration status, specimen traceability, data integrity, quality records, and Objective Quality Evidence needed to support repeatability and technical defensibility.
Prepare test plans, procedures, engineering calculations, data packages, plots, technical reports, performance summaries, drawings, specifications, and recommendations that clearly document methods, results, conclusions, and limitations.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/EXPERTISE:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Ocean Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in mechanical engineering, structural testing, materials testing, component evaluation, mechanical systems, or related RDT&E activities in laboratory, field, shipboard, or industrial environments.
Strong working knowledge of mechanics of materials, structural integrity, fatigue, durability, stiffness, stress/strain behavior, failure modes, mechanical testing, and environmental effects on material and component performance.
Hands-on experience developing and executing mechanical or structural test plans for metallic alloys, non-metallic materials, bearings, machinery, components, or comparable engineered systems.
Experience with test instrumentation, sensor selection, calibration, data acquisition, monitoring and control systems, experimental setup, validation, and troubleshooting.
Experience incorporating environmental and operational variables such as seawater, sea spray, temperature, load, cycling, vibration, wear, and other representative service conditions into test programs.
Experience with fabrication, welding, heat treatment, bonding, fastening, additive manufacturing, or related manufacturing processes and their effects on mechanical performance is desirable.
Experience with engineering analysis, numerical modeling, CAD/CAE, statistical analysis, or data-visualization tools used to interpret mechanical test results is desirable.
Ability to perform laboratory and fieldwork in waterfront, shipboard, shipyard, and other industrial environments as required.
Excellent technical writing skills with the ability to prepare clear test plans, engineering analyses, technical reports, specifications, and recommendations based on experimental evidence.
