Lead Mechanical Engineer

Blue Signal Search; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Blue Signal Search is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to guide hardware development for autonomous aerial platforms from concept to production.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, review CAD and resolve integration issues while partnering with manufacturing and quality to improve producibility and reliability. U.S. citizenship and security clearance eligibility are preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of engineering experience with 2+ years in technical leadership.
• Practical experience designing, integrating, testing unmanned aircraft hardware.
• Multidisciplinary mechatronics background with electronics integration.
• Proven track record moving hardware from prototype to production.
• Experience leading engineers using structured schedules and sprints.
• Strong CAD capabilities and manufacturing documentation knowledge.
• U.S. citizenship; ability to qualify for a security clearance is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead hardware development from initial design through testing and production.
• Design and review mechanical parts and assemblies; resolve integration issues.
• Coordinate sensors, actuators, electronics, wiring, and structures for a complete platform.
• Drive execution using JIRA, Scrum, and two-week sprints with realistic plans.
• Mentor engineers and remove execution barriers to meet milestones.
• Lead technical reviews, risk assessments, and corrective actions.

Skills

Leadership

UAS / unmanned aircraft experience

Mechatronics

Production transition

CAD - SolidWorks/Creo

Design for manufacturing

Mentoring / team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical / Mechatronics

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Fusion 360

Job description

Our client designs and delivers sophisticated autonomous technology built to perform in challenging operational environments where dependable execution, system integrity, and consistent results are essential. As the organization moves new aerial hardware from development into production, it is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer who can combine hands on engineering depth with the leadership needed to turn ambitious concepts into dependable, manufacturable products. This role provides the opportunity to contribute across key technical initiatives, support evolving technologies, and provide leadership to a diverse engineering team within a collaborative and dynamic organization.

This Role Offers

• Direct involvement across concept development, prototyping, testing, flight hardware integration, and production.
• A fast-paced engineering environment where decisions translate directly into physical products.
• Exposure to defense and government programs involving mission driven unmanned technology.
• Competitive compensation and benefits, including healthcare and retirement benefits.

Focus

• Guide a multidisciplinary engineering group across mechanical, electrical, software, and systems work while keeping ownership, priorities, and delivery commitments clear.
• Lead hardware development activities from initial design and prototyping through testing, validation, and transition into production.
• Stay close to the hardware by designing mechanical parts and assemblies, reviewing CAD, and helping resolve integration issues on real aircraft.
• Coordinate sensors, actuators, electronics, wiring, structures, and other subsystems so the complete platform functions as an integrated product.
• Drive execution through JIRA, Scrum practices, and two week sprints, building realistic plans backward from firm delivery dates.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations to improve manufacturability, assembly, testability, reliability, and production readiness.
• Lead technical reviews, risk assessments, root cause investigations, corrective actions, and design decisions that keep programs moving.
• Establish practical engineering standards, development workflows, documentation expectations, and technical roadmaps for a growing hardware organization.
• Evaluate materials, fabrication methods, components, and emerging technologies with an eye toward performance, cost, scalability, and field reliability.
• Mentor engineers, remove execution barriers, and create accountability around milestones, sprint commitments, and technical quality.

Skill Set

• At least 7 years of engineering experience, including 2 or more years in technical leadership, engineering management, or a comparable lead role.
• Practical engineering experience supporting the design, integration, evaluation, or technical resolution of unmanned aircraft or related autonomous platforms.
• A multidisciplinary mechatronics background with meaningful experience across mechanical hardware and electrical or electronic integration.
• Demonstrated success taking at least one physical hardware product from prototype development into production or manufacturing.
• Experience leading engineers and complex technical projects using structured schedules, JIRA boards, Scrum, sprint planning, and hard delivery deadlines.
• Strong CAD capability using SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, or a comparable mechanical design platform.
• Working knowledge of design for manufacturing, design for assembly, manufacturing documentation, and common fabrication processes.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility to support government and defense related programs.
• Ability to qualify for a U.S. Secret security clearance is strongly preferred.