Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Bell & Associates is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer with defense industry experience to lead a small mechanical engineering team and improve complex electromechanical systems already in production and field use.

You will quickly develop an understanding of existing designs, evaluate proposed changes, and deliver practical mechanical revisions that preserve system functionality. You will set priorities, assign and review work, and keep the team moving while making substantial hands-on design contributions. You will work closely with the engineers responsible for electronics and system integration. You must understand how mechanical features interact with electronics, sensors, and other subsystems and carry those constraints forward in your designs.

This is a full-time, on-site position at our facility in Phoenix, Arizona. A current security clearance is not required. However client will sponsor eligible employees if and when a clearance becomes necessary.

Responsibilities

• Review existing assemblies, drawings, and system configurations to understand design intent, dependencies, and constraints before making changes.
• Revise and extend mechanical designs for platforms, including sensor mounts, equipment enclosures, structural supports, and mechanisms.
• Assess how proposed mechanical changes affect existing system and performance.
• Make hands-on SolidWorks design revisions and maintain accurate models, drawings, bills of materials, and engineering changes using PDM and controlled documentation practices.
• Use tolerance analysis, material selection, structural assessments, and FEA as appropriate to evaluate revisions and resolve design issues.
• Set priorities, break work into clear assignments, and manage schedules, dependencies, and follow-through across a small team. Identify obstacles early and communicate what is needed to resolve them.
• Review team members’ designs and drawings, provide practical technical guidance, and confirm that revisions are consistent with the existing system and ready for release.
• Communicate design changes and tradeoffs clearly to engineers, technicians, production staff, and company leadership. Provide usable written instructions and concise updates on progress, risks, and decisions needed.
• Work with production, technicians, suppliers, and other engineering disciplines to resolve fit, clearance, assembly, and field issues quickly.
• Support builds, testing, and verification of mechanical changes; investigate failures and implement corrective actions.
• Improve manufacturability, reliability, and field serviceability while balancing turnaround time, cost, and the effect of changes on existing systems.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology.
• At least 8 years of progressive mechanical design experience, or a master’s degree plus at least 6 years, including direct experience developing or revising mechanical designs within defense electromechanical products or systems.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex existing designs quickly, identify the effects of proposed changes, and deliver accurate revisions through controlled production release.
• Advanced proficiency in SolidWorks, including complex assemblies and production drawings, and experience with PDM systems. Candidates with advanced Creo or NX experience who can transition quickly to SolidWorks will also be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, drawing standards, and configuration control.
• Working knowledge of how mechanical design interacts with electronics, sensors, motors or actuators, power components, and cable assemblies, including packaging, clearances, heat, vibration, and access.
• Knowledge of machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, materials, finishes, and design for manufacturability and assembly.
• Experience troubleshooting existing hardware, supporting prototype or production builds, evaluating design changes, and resolving manufacturing or field issues.
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. government security clearance. No active clearance is required.

Preferred qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with mechanical design for surveillance or ISR systems, electro-optical/infrared sensors, radar equipment, pan-and-tilt mechanisms, or vehicle-mounted and deployable equipment.
• Experience applying MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-464, MIL-STD-1472, or comparable customer requirements when evaluating mechanical design changes.
• Experience with environmental sealing and ingress protection, EMI/EMC considerations in mechanical packaging, vibration isolation, and ruggedized electronics enclosures.
• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or relevant technical certifications.

Compensation and benefits

The anticipated starting base salary range is $125,000 to $140,000 per year, depending on relevant experience, technical capability, and demonstrated leadership. Position will cover employee healthcare premiums. Merit increases and discretionary performance bonuses recognize demonstrated capability and results.