Mechanical Engineer

DESE is seeking a Mechanical Engineer in Huntsville, AL to support the design, analysis, integration, and validation of advanced aerospace and defense systems throughout the product development lifecycle.

About the role

The Mechanical Engineer performs engineering analyses and develops mechanical solutions that influence system performance, reliability, and mission success. This role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to support hardware development from concept through design, qualification, manufacturing, testing, and production. The ideal candidate possesses experience in mechanical design, structural analysis, thermal analysis, dynamics, or related engineering disciplines and enjoys solving complex technical challenges in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, development, analysis, and integration of aerospace and defense hardware throughout the product lifecycle.
• Perform mechanical engineering analyses including structural, thermal, dynamic, vibration, shock, and other engineering evaluations as required.
• Develop analytical and simulation models to evaluate system performance under operational and environmental loading conditions.
• Conduct engineering trade studies and provide technical recommendations to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Develop and evaluate finite element models to support structural and thermal analyses.
• Support mechanical design activities including component development, packaging, mechanisms, and hardware integration.
• Collaborate with systems, structural, manufacturing, electrical, software, and test engineering teams to support integrated product development.
• Utilize industry-standard engineering tools to perform analyses, support design decisions, and validate system performance.
• Develop automation scripts and data processing tools using MATLAB, Python, or equivalent programming languages.
• Prepare technical reports, engineering documentation, presentations, and customer deliverables supporting design reviews and program milestones.
• Support prototype development, system integration, environmental testing, qualification, verification, and correlation of analytical models with test data.
• Investigate engineering anomalies and support root cause and corrective action efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience supporting mechanical engineering, structural analysis, thermal analysis, product development, or related engineering activities.
• Experience performing engineering analyses using finite element methods, thermal modeling, dynamics, or other analytical techniques.
• Experience using one or more engineering software packages such as ANSYS, NX/Simcenter, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, SINDA, MSC ADAMS, LS-DYNA, or equivalent.
• Experience with CAD software such as Siemens NX, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals including mechanics of materials, heat transfer, dynamics, structural analysis, or thermodynamics.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or equivalent programming languages for engineering analysis and automation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance; U.S. Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting aerospace, missile, defense, or space programs.
• Experience with mechanical hardware design and product development.
• Experience correlating analytical models with structural, thermal, vibration, or environmental test data.
• Familiarity with qualification, environmental, vibration, thermal vacuum, or flight testing.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or digital engineering environments.
• Knowledge of military, aerospace, and industry engineering standards.
• Experience supporting hardware from concept through production.

About DESE

For the past 43 years, DESE has provided industry-leading technical and engineering solutions in the fields of Defense, Energy, Space, and Environment. As a small, family-oriented business, DESE offers a compelling benefits package including a generous profit-sharing plan, competitive salaries, and the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals leveraging cutting-edge technologies to solve complex and engaging problems.

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance with affordable premiums.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Two different flexible spending account options.
• Company-paid life insurance with options for employee-paid additional coverage.
• Performance bonus program.
• Education reimbursement program.
• Company-paid personal leave for approved philanthropic activities.
• Vacation, sick, and holiday leave.
• Robust 401k profit-sharing plan.
• Opportunities for internal promotions.
• Employee referral incentive program.
• Rewards and gifts for service anniversaries.