Lead Mechanical Engineer

About the role

Leidos is seeking a Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join its Hypersonics line of business. This position supports advanced weapon system development efforts for hypersonic vehicle subassemblies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate mechanical engineering activities for a key hypersonic vehicle subassembly.
• Coordinate and contribute to the design and development of mechanical components and assemblies for advanced hypersonic missile systems.
• Communicate technical and program requirements to external partners and suppliers, ensuring requirements are clearly understood and incorporated into their designs.
• Serve as the primary technical interface for external design partners, coordinating design activities, interfaces, deliverables, technical decisions, and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain engineering plans and schedules, track progress against commitments, and communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to program leadership.
• Own and coordinate mechanical interfaces between the assigned subassembly and adjacent subsystems, ensuring interface requirements are defined, documented, communicated, and verified.
• Develop mechanical designs with consideration for functionality, manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and producibility. Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and applicable engineering drawing standards.
• Perform tolerance analyses and engineering calculations to support design decisions and verify component and assembly requirements.
• Plan, facilitate, and participate in design reviews, peer reviews, drawing reviews, and other technical meetings throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing activities by troubleshooting mechanical issues, coordinating issue resolution, and implementing engineering solutions.
• Evaluate engineering changes for impacts to design, interfaces, manufacturing, cost, schedule, and downstream hardware.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including structural, thermal, systems, manufacturing, quality, and test engineering, to develop and mature mechanical designs.
• Perform work in both classified and unclassified environments as required.

Qualifications

• Active DoD Secret security clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution with 4+ years of relevant experience or Master’s degree with 2+ years of relevant experience or high school diploma with 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar software.
• Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 and basic tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, including statics, mechanics of materials, materials science, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate technical meetings and drive technical decisions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience interacting directly with customers, suppliers, or external engineering partners and representing an engineering organization in technical discussions.
• Demonstrated understanding of cost, schedule, and programmatic impacts associated with engineering decisions and deliverables.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively through written documentation, drawings, presentations, and verbal communication.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and in team environments, as well as ability to provide clarification and instruction to others.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting DoD programs involving missile systems, reentry vehicles, hypersonic systems, or other advanced aerospace technologies.
• Experience leading a mechanical assembly, subsystem, work package, or similar engineering scope through design, development, integration, and/or production.
• Experience coordinating engineering activities with suppliers, subcontractors, or external design partners.
• Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
• Experience creating 3D models and engineering drawings using PTC Creo and managing data within Windchill.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes, including machining, composites, additive manufacturing, welding, bonding, and mechanical fastening.
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware fabrication, assembly, integration, or testing.
• Familiarity with structural and/or thermal analysis as it relates to mechanical design.