Mechanical Engineering Manager

About the role

We are looking for a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead and grow the Mechanical Engineering team at ACS. This is a technical and managerial role that requires hands-on engineering contribution alongside strong leadership, execution, and communication skills. You will drive architecture decisions, guide system-level integration, and ensure on-time delivery of complex, mission-critical defense products across structural, thermal, motion-control, and manufacturing domains.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, mentor, and manage the Mechanical Engineering team; foster a high-performance, engineering-first culture focused on accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Provide technical direction and review complex electromechanical design decisions across structural, thermal, motion-control, and manufacturing domains; oversee mechanical testing, validation, and qualification activities to ensure designs meet performance, reliability, and operational requirements.
• Own engineering execution from concept through deployment; define priorities, timelines, and milestones in partnership with leadership and ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within scope.
• Work closely with product, operations, and leadership to align engineering efforts with company objectives; establish and maintain engineering processes, design reviews, and documentation standards to support rapid development and long-term maintainability.

What You’ll Need

• 7+ years of professional engineering experience, including 2+ years in an engineering leadership or management role.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering; strong background designing electromechanical systems, robotics, autonomous systems, or complex defense hardware.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage performance, and develop engineers at varying career stages; strong project management instincts with the ability to balance speed, quality, and technical risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What You’ll Stand Out With

• Prior experience in defense systems, robotics, autonomous platforms, or safety-critical environments.
• Deep expertise in precision mechanisms, motion systems, thermal management, ruggedized hardware, or high-performance electromechanical products.
• Experience building or scaling engineering teams in fast-paced startup environments.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• ACS Equity Package
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off