Chief Mechanical Engineer

MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR TOP SECURITY CLEARANCE

About the Role We're building next-generation defense systems designed to operate in the world's most demanding environments. As our Chief Mechanical Engineer, you'll lead the architecture, design, testing, and validation of mission-critical hardware that must perform flawlessly under extreme operational conditions. This is a hands‑on leadership role for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of advanced robotics, autonomy, and ruggedized defense systems. You'll own the mechanical engineering function, drive technical decision‑making, and work closely with electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to bring cutting‑edge products from concept to deployment. What You'll Do Lead the design, development, and qualification of ruggedized mechanical and electromechanical systems for defense applications. Own the mechanical architecture of products from early concept through production and field deployment. Design systems to meet demanding military and operational requirements, including vibration, shock, thermal, ingress protection, and environmental survivability standards. Perform and oversee structural, thermal, vibration, modal, and finite element analyses to validate designs and guide engineering decisions. Drive mechanical integration across sensors, actuators, power systems, electronics, wiring harnesses, and embedded hardware. Develop comprehensive engineering documentation, including CAD models, drawings, specifications, test plans, analysis reports, and qualification procedures. Plan and execute environmental, reliability, and qualification testing to validate performance under real‑world operating conditions. Lead prototype builds and rapid iteration cycles, working closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure scalable, cost‑effective designs. Establish and enforce best practices in Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Reliability (DFR), and product lifecycle management. Identify technical risks early and lead cross‑functional design reviews to ensure successful program execution. Build and mentor a high‑performing mechanical engineering team as the company scales. What You'll Bring A passion for building robust hardware systems that perform reliably in harsh and mission‑critical environments. 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including significant experience developing complex electromechanical products. Previous experience in robotics, autonomous systems, robotic research laboratories, medical robotics, unmanned systems, or related advanced hardware domains. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline. Strong R&D background with a track record of taking products from concept through validation and deployment. Expertise in structural, vibration, thermal, and modal analysis using tools such as ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation, or equivalent platforms. Advanced proficiency with modern CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, or CATIA. Deep understanding of environmental qualification requirements, including vibration, shock, thermal, humidity, and other military‑grade durability standards. Experience integrating mechanical structures with electrical and electronic systems, including sensors, actuators, cabling, and embedded hardware. Strong understanding of FEA, modal analysis, thermal management, and reliability engineering. Proven ability to collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing disciplines. Experience applying DFM and DFR methodologies to complex hardware products. Preferred Qualifications Direct experience developing hardware for defense, aerospace, maritime, or other mission‑critical industries. Experience qualifying products to MIL‑STD‑810 environmental test requirements. Familiarity with naval shock, EMI/EMC, and related military qualification standards. Experience designing systems for shock mitigation, vibration isolation, and structural survivability. Knowledge of thermal management, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer in tightly integrated electromechanical systems. Experience with rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, and accelerated hardware development cycles. Startup experience or a demonstrated ability to thrive in fast‑paced, resource‑constrained engineering environments. Previous technical leadership experience managing projects, teams, or major hardware programs. Why Join Us You will help build the next generation of autonomous defense technology alongside a small team of exceptional engineers. You'll have significant ownership, direct influence on product strategy and architecture, and the opportunity to solve some of the hardest engineering challenges in national security. #J-18808-Ljbffr Green Key Resources