Lead Mechanical Engineer

Company: Leading manufacturer of Unmanned Aircraft System

Position: Mechanical Engineer

Location: On-site San Diego

Direct hire/permanent position.

Lead mechanical engineer with a strong technical background, exceptional mechanical dexterity, and consistent attention to detail.  The candidate will be expected to contribute to the design and development of the system and related components—leveraging a familiarity with the design of machined and sheet metal components, 3D printing, cable assemblies, and mechanical assemblies—as well as drawing creation thereof.  In addition, this person’s responsibilities will include performing consistent assembly and disassembly of the system, subassemblies, and external components; this includes diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repair of customer systems.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong critical thinking and analytical skills plus strong written and verbal communication skills.  The candidate must have demonstrated experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment, be able to quickly adapt to various types of work, and would quickly learn new skills, analysis methods, etc. while supporting a diverse range of tasks.  The candidate must be able to multi-task, while supporting technology development programs, along with the rigorous processes & procedures associated with the manufacture of production hardware.

A successful candidate would have most (if not all) of the following:

·        Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 7-9+ years of experience in defense or ruggedized system development

·        Experience designing hardened electro-mechanical enclosures and structural assemblies for harsh operational environments

·        Working knowledge of MIL-STD requirements (e.g., environmental, shock, vibration, thermal, and sealing standards)

·        Experience designing for ingress protection (IP/NEMA ratings), EMI shielding, and environmental survivability

·        Proficiency in thermal management strategies including conduction cooling, heat sinking, forced convection, and interface materials

·         Experience with structural analysis, tolerance stack-ups, and GD&T practices

·        Strong capability in developing detailed 2D manufacturing drawings and assembly documentation

·        Experience supporting environmental qualification testing (shock, vibration, temperature, humidity, salt fog, etc.)

·        Familiarity with materials selection for military use including corrosion-resistant alloys, coatings, and surface treatments

·        Experience with cable harness routing, strain relief methods, and connector interface design in high-reliability systems

·        Hands-on participation in prototype builds, integration, test, and production transition

·        Experience with configuration management and Product Data Management (PDM) tools

·        Strong working knowledge of SolidWorks (or equivalent CAD platform)

·        Ability to work independently or within a small, highly technical team

·        Demonstrated experience interfacing with suppliers, machine shops, and defense manufacturing partners

·        Desire for growth into technical leadership or program-level mechanical ownership

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

·        Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent STEM discipline

·        5-7+ years of relevant experience with mechanical design and drawing creation

·        Proven experience developing production-ready mechanical drawings and assemblies

·        Demonstrated experience working on hardware subject to environmental qualification testing

·        Proficiency with SolidWorks 3D modeling and 2D drawing creation

·        Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and compliance

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

·        Active or prior U.S. security clearance (or ability to obtain one)

·        Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and related defense standards

·        Experience designing for EMI mitigation and grounding strategies

·        Experience with sealed enclosure design, gasket selection, and environmental sealing validation

·        Experience performing or supporting FEA for structural, vibration, or thermal analysis

·        Experience supporting full product life-cycle development from concept through sustainment

·        Experience with rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, and design for manufacturability (DFM)

·        Experience operating or supporting CNC machining or fabrication processes

·        Familiarity with corrosion prevention methods including coatings, platings, and anodization

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