Senior Mechanical Engineer / Program Support

Senior Mechanical Engineer / Program Support About the Organization Mettle Ops is a woman-owned business experienced in defense program management, federal acquisitions, business development, engineering, analysis, reporting, and risk management with the mission of helping soldiers survive on the battlefield. Through transparency and grit, Mettle Ops delivers multidisciplinary, comprehensive Department of Defense engineering solutions to government and industry partners on a national scale with a mission to build business based on a philosophy of hard work and dedication. Mettle Ops believes they have a high obligation to the warfighter, their home state of Michigan, their customers, their employees, their faith, and their place on this earth. Mettle Ops is inspired by courage and tenacity and so-named Mettle Ops. EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Description Position Overview The Senior Mechanical Engineer / Program Support role is a senior technical position focused primarily on mechanical engineering execution, technical leadership, and mentoring of junior engineers. This individual leads and supports mechanical design, integration, build, test, troubleshooting, requirements decomposition, and drawing release activities across complex defense-related engineering efforts. The role also includes a limited program-support component focused on breaking larger engineering objectives into executable tasks, coordinating engineering work, and communicating progress and schedule concerns to the program manager. It is not a full-time project or program management role and does not include formal personnel management authority. Length: 6-month contract with possibility of extension. Key Responsibilities - Mechanical Engineering Leadership Lead mechanical engineering activities for system-, subsystem-, and component-level design, integration, build, and test efforts. Apply advanced mechanical engineering principles and sound judgment to solve complex technical problems. Support requirements decomposition and translate technical requirements into practical engineering solutions. Lead or support design development, packaging, integration, troubleshooting, verification, and validation efforts. Produce, review, and improve engineering documentation including drawings, design packages, presentations, reports, test documentation, and related technical artifacts. Support drawing development, drawing review, and drawing release activities. Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, test events, and problem-resolution activities. Evaluate technical issues, customer comments, and design changes for impact to performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, quality, program management, and other engineering disciplines. Key Responsibilities - Technical Leadership and Mentorship Provide technical leadership to junior mechanical engineers through coaching, task guidance, design review, and day-to-day mentoring. Help develop engineering rigor, problem-solving ability, and execution discipline across the team. Share best practices in design, integration, test, troubleshooting, documentation, and configuration discipline. Support consistent engineering execution without formal supervisory authority. Key Responsibilities - Program Support Help break larger engineering objectives into clear, executable tasks for the engineering team. Support planning and coordination of engineering work to align with program priorities and milestones. Assign or coordinate actionable engineering tasks within the team in alignment with program direction. Monitor engineering task progress and identify delays, blockers, and technical risks that could affect schedule. Communicate engineering status, completion progress, and schedule concerns to the program manager. Support disciplined execution of engineering scope in coordination with program leadership. Position Requirements Knowledge: gained through college education proven by their diploma, learned through applicable company trainings proven with training completion certificates or industry certifications Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. Finite Element Analysis - Simulate physical phenomena and reduce the need for physical prototypes, while optimizing the components that are part of the design process of a project. Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline. 15+ years of relevant mechanical engineering experience. Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design, integration, test, and troubleshooting efforts for complexes systems. Strong background in requirements decomposition, engineering documentation, and drawing release. Demonstrated ability to guide and mentor junior engineers in a technical lead capacity. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and engineering judgment skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools. Preferred Qualifications Military experience preferred. Experience in defense or other highly regulated technical environments. Experience working on vehicle, platform, or other complex integrated mechanical systems. Experience with CAD tools, PDM/PLM systems, and engineering documentation processes. Experience supporting engineering planning, engineering task coordination, and schedule status reporting. Active security clearance, or ability to obtain one. Core Competencies Mechanical design and system integration. Technical leadership and mentorship. Design-for-execution mindset. Troubleshooting and engineering problem solving. Requirements decomposition. Documentation and drawing discipline. Cross-functional collaboration. Clear technical communication. Engineering task planning and status accountability. Work Environment Professional engineering office environment with regular interaction across engineering and program teams. Frequent coordination with internal technical staff and occasional customer interaction, typically in support of the program manager. Primarily desk-based with participation in integration, build, review, and test activities as needed. Work Context Body Positioning Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions Spend Time Sitting Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls Communication Contact With Others Electronic Mail Face-to-Face Discussions Letters and Memos Telephone Competition Level of Competition Environmental Conditions Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable Impact of Decisions Frequency of Decision Making Job Hazards Exposed to Hazardous Equipment Routine versus Challenging Work Importance of Being Exact or Accurate Importance of Repeating Same Tasks Structured versus Unstructured Work Pace and Scheduling Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment Time Pressure Responsibility for Others Responsibility for Outcomes and Results Role Relationships Coordinate or Lead Others Deal With External Customers Work With Work Group or Team Work Attire Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets Work Setting Indoors, Environmentally Controlled Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled Activities Interacting With Computers Develop or maintain databases Use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks Use computer graphics design software Use computers to enter, access or retrieve data Use relational database software Use spreadsheet software Use word processing or desktop publishing software Getting Information Collect scientific or technical data Read blueprints Read schematics Read technical drawings Read vehicle manufacturer's specifications Making Decisions and Solving Problems Resolve engineering or science problems Use intuitive judgment for engineering analyses Analyzing Data or Information Analyze engineering design problems Analyze engineering test data Analyze project proposal to determine feasibility, cost, and time Analyze scientific research data or investigative findings Analyze technical data, designs, or preliminary specifications Analyze test data Evaluate costs of engineering projects Evaluate engineering data Evaluate manufacturing or processing systems Evaluate tool designs Provide analytical assessment of engineering data Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel Processing Information Compile numerical or statistical data Compute production, construction, or installation specifications Develop tables depicting data Documenting/Recording Information Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information Bid engineering, construction or extraction projects Estimate cost for engineering projects Estimate time needed for project Estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Follow manufacturing methods or techniques Follow safe waste disposal procedures Follow statistical process control procedures Use biological research techniques Use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques Use government regulations Use knowledge of investigation techniques Use library or online Internet research techniques Use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems Use pollution control techniques Use project management techniques Use quality assurance techniques Use quantitative research methods Use research methodology procedures within manufacturing or commerce Use robotics systems technology Use scientific research methodology Use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities Use technical regulations for engineering problems Thinking Creatively Create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts Design control systems Design electro-mechanical equipment Design electronic equipment Design engineered systems Design machines Design manufacturing processes or methods Design power equipment Design tools or mechanical devices Design transporting processes Determine specifications Develop mathematical simulation models Improve test devices or techniques in manufacturing, industrial or engineering setting Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Recognize characteristics of metals Understand engineering data or reports Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work Plan production processes Plan testing of engineering methods Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Examine engineering documents for completeness or accuracy Inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Work as a team member Communicating with Persons Outside Organization Communicate technical information Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment Calculate engineering specifications Draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale Write product performance requirements Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Conduct performance testing Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Explain complex mathematical information Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Evaluate product design Provide Consultation and Advice to Others Advise clients or customers Advise clients regarding engineering problems Recommend materials for products Recommend purchase, repair, or modification of equipment Tools and Technology Tools Flow transmitters Subsonic wind tunnels Supersonic wind tunnels Flowmeters Digital particle image velocimeters Laser Doppler anemometers Laser Doppler velocimeters LDV Pitot tubes Semiconductor process systems Aligners Anodic wafer bonding systems Contact lithography equipment Deep reactive ion etchers DRIE Evaporation systems Technology Analytical or scientific software Computer aided design CAD software Computer aided manufacturing CAM software Development environment software Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time Full-Time #J-18808-Ljbffr Mettle Ops