Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer Location: Lake Forest, CA (PVP Advanced EO Systems facilities) Position Summary PVP Advanced EO Systems is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to serve as the technical lead for the design and development of new gimbal and precision positioner systems supporting advanced electro-optical and infrared programs. This role owns the mechanical architecture of next-generation stabilized platforms from requirements definition through analysis, detailed design, prototyping, and qualification, integrating daylight and infrared cameras, laser payloads, and command-and-control electromechanical systems into compact, high-performance assemblies. This position reports to the Mechanical Engineering Manager and works in close partnership with Systems, Electrical, and Optical Engineering, Program Management, Quality, and Manufacturing. The ideal candidate is a seasoned design engineer with deep expertise in precision electromechanical and gimbal design who can set technical direction, resolve complex design trades, and mentor a growing engineering team while remaining hands‑on with the hardware. Key Responsibilities Gimbal System Design and Architecture Lead the mechanical design and architecture of new multi-axis gimbal and positioner systems for surveillance, force protection, counter‑UAS, and airborne EO/IR applications. Define mechanical concepts, axis configurations, bearing and drive architectures, mass properties, and packaging to meet stabilization, pointing accuracy, slew rate, and environmental requirements. Design precision structures, housings, brackets, and optical mounts that integrate daylight imagers, IR sensors, lasers, and electronics within tight volume, weight, and stiffness constraints. Drive design trade studies across performance, cost, manufacturability, and schedule, and select motors, encoders, bearings, slip rings, and related components. Mechanical Analysis and Verification Perform and direct engineering calculations and analyses prior to detailed design, including tolerance stack‑ups, structural, modal, thermal, and dynamic (shock and vibration) analysis. Apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5 to ensure designs are dimensionally robust, repeatable, and producible. Develop and execute verification and qualification test plans, correlating analysis to test data and dispositioning anomalies through to root cause and closure. Ensure designs meet applicable environmental and reliability requirements such as MIL‑STD‑810 and program‑specific specifications. Requirements and Systems Integration Decompose customer and system‑level requirements into mechanical requirements, and proactively identify and close gaps between customer needs and product output. Coordinate mechanical, electrical, optical, and software interfaces to ensure clean integration of command‑and‑control electromechanical systems. Maintain requirements traceability and support interface control documentation across engineering disciplines. Design for Manufacturing, Test, and Production Transition Develop production‑ready designs, technical drawings, and product structures, and release configuration through the PLM and ERP systems. Partner with Manufacturing and Quality to identify manufacturability and testability risks early and design them out, supporting smooth transition to assembly, integration, and test. Provide engineering support during build, integration, and test, ensuring hardware is fabricated and assembled to design intent, and incorporate field and production feedback to upgrade, improve, or repair existing designs. Technical Leadership and Mentorship Serve as the senior mechanical design authority, setting design standards, reviewing the work of other engineers, and leading design reviews (PDR, CDR). Mentor and develop junior and mid‑level mechanical engineers, raising the overall capability of the design team. Represent mechanical engineering in technical exchanges with customers, primes, and suppliers. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Program Management to align design deliverables with program schedules, milestones, and cost objectives. Collaborate with Supply Chain on component selection, supplier capability, and make‑versus‑buy decisions. Support proposal and new‑business efforts with design concepts, rough‑order estimates, and technical risk assessments. Qualifications Education and Experience Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline. 10+ years of mechanical design experience, including significant experience designing precision electromechanical assemblies, gimbals, or positioners. Demonstrated experience leading the design of complex hardware from requirements through qualification in a regulated environment such as aerospace or defense. Design and Technical Background Expert-level proficiency in 3D CAD using SolidWorks, including large assemblies, surfacing, and configuration management. Strong command of GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance analysis, and drawing creation and interpretation. Working knowledge of structural, modal, thermal, and dynamic analysis (FEA), and the ability to translate analysis into design decisions. Experience with precision motion components such as bearings, brushless motors, encoders, gear trains, and slip rings, and familiarity with command‑and‑control of electromechanical systems. Familiarity with PLM and ERP systems for design release and configuration control; Arena PLM and M1 ERP experience is a plus. Skills and Attributes Technical leader who sets direction and standards while remaining hands‑on with the hardware. Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to drive complex design issues to root cause and closure. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, effective across engineering, quality, supply chain, and program teams as well as with customers and suppliers. Self‑directed and able to operate with minimal oversight in a fast‑moving, multi‑program environment. Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR (22 CFR 120.62) due to the nature of the work. Why Advanced EO? Competitive Benefits: Medical plan coverage, 401k plan with employer matching, paid time‑off, tuition reimbursement, and profit sharing. High‑impact mission support: Your work contributes to critical surveillance and protection platforms used by US DoD, DHS, NASA, and international clients. Ownership of new designs: Lead the architecture of next‑generation gimbal systems from a blank sheet through production. Quality‑driven environment: Operate within AS9100D and ISO 9001 certified processes. About PVP Advanced EO Systems PVP Advanced EO Systems (Advanced EO) is a renowned developer and manufacturer of high-performance electro‑optical (EO) and infrared (IR) imaging systems, positioners, and sensor integration solutions tailored for military, aerospace, homeland security, and commercial sectors. Since its founding in 1997, the company has mastered in‑house capabilities, from precision CNC machining to assembly, integration, and environmental testing. Advanced EO specializes in modular, backward‑compatible IR imagers, visible imagers, laser systems, gimbals, real‑time overlays, and more. Additional Information PVP Advanced EO Systems is proud to be an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. PVP Advanced EO Systems maintains a drug‑free workplace and performs pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law. PVP Advanced EO Systems is proud to be an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. PVP Advanced EO Systems maintains a drug‑free workplace and performs pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr