Position Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer
Requisition ID: 1833
Position Location: Sterling, VA
Position Reports To: Manager, Mechanical Engineering
Supervises Others: No

Position Summary

We are seeking a talented, self-motivated, and experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer with demonstrated success in developing and delivering new and/or improved products that meet requirements on time and within budget.

The Principle Mechanical Engineer works collaboratively with program managers and project engineers to ensure successful program execution and is responsible for applying expert mechanical knowledge in designing and analyzing electro-mechanical assemblies. This position requires expert technical capability and communication skills, and effective forward thinking to take advantage of opportunities and prevent issues. To be successful in this role, the individual should possess expert technical depth to perform deep-dive analysis, as well as technical breadth to work through complex issues across disciplines (e.g. mechanical, electrical, software, and firmware). This individual can work autonomously with only high-level objectives to be effective, is able to work on problems of diverse complexity and scope and demonstrates expert engineering judgement.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design & Modeling: Lead the mechanical design of spacecraft electronics assemblies using high-fidelity CAD tools like SolidWorks or similar.
• Draft high quality mechanical drawings for the fabrication of designed parts incorporating the necessary GD&T.
• FEA Analysis: Perform and review detailed structural and thermal analysis to validate design integrity under flight loads and temperatures using Ansys Workbench or similar.
• Testing & Qualification: Familiarity with space environmental testing, including vibration, thermal-vacuum (TVAC), and shock testing, to ensure flight readiness.
• Project Oversight: Manage project schedules and technical risk, while coordinating with electrical, software, and systems engineers to integrate multidisciplinary subsystems.
• Teamwork: Mentor teammates, collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams. Perform detailed reviews of mechanical team products.
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
• 9+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree or 7+ years with a Master's degree
• Experience with aerospace and/or space hardware development
• Experience with PDM systems and configuration management

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of space electronics packaging and cooling (VPX standards) and designing for space environments
• Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $107,000 - $198,000
Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic life with AD&D
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
• Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.