Lead Mechanical Engineer (Adrian, MI)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design and optimization of mechanical and optomechanical systems (telescope tubes, mounts, enclosures, optical benches/supports).
• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of mechanical engineers; assign tasks, review work, and foster professional development.
• Define system architecture, design standards, and verification strategies; own key interfaces and requirements.
• Produce and review detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and BOMs; enforce DFM and quality standards.
• Drive STOP analyses and system-level verification to ensure structural, thermal, and optical performance across operating environments.
• Oversee FEA and test plans for stress, thermal, and vibration environments; interpret results and drive design changes.
• Lead design reviews (PDR, CDR) and present technical rationale to stakeholders.
• Career Development - Coordinate with optics, electrical, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure integration and manufacturability.
• Support fabrication, QC, assembly, system validation, and supplier development.
• Own schedule, risk management, and technical trade studies for assigned subsystems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or relevant professional experience.
• 8+ years relevant experience with progressive responsibility in aerospace, optics, or precision mechanical systems.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and managing engineers through design to production.
• Expert-level proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) and creating detailed drawings/BOMs.
• Demonstrated experience with STOP or cross-domain system verification, and FEA workflows (ANSYS, Nastran, or similar).
• Strong knowledge of materials, fasteners, coatings, alignment techniques, and DFM/DFT principles.
• Excellent communicator and presenter; comfortable leading reviews and interfacing with senior leadership.
• Track record of delivering complex engineered systems from concept to production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with telescope systems, astronomical instrumentation, or optomechanics.
• Thermal design experience for outdoor or space environments; athermal design knowledge.
• Familiarity with optical mounts, flexures, tolerance analysis, and alignment tooling.
• Systems engineering experience: ICDs, verification planning, requirements flowdown.
• Basic scripting/automation (Python, MATLAB) for design or test workflows.
• Experience with ISO/AS9100 quality systems and supplier management.