Mechanical Engineer

MPR Associates, Inc.; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

MPR Associates, Inc. is seeking experienced mechanical engineers for full-time roles at our Alexandria, VA headquarters and other U.S. offices.

You will lead mechanical design and analysis of multi-discipline systems and mentor junior engineers across fluid flow, thermodynamics, and structural disciplines. The ideal candidate has a Bachelors or Masters in Mechanical Engineering with 2–7 years of relevant experience and proficiency in SolidWorks and ANSYS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline required.
• 2–7 years' work experience in mechanical design and/or analysis, preferably with diverse skillsets.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead mechanical design and analysis efforts of multi-discipline system designs.
• Develop analytical solutions in thermal hydraulics, structural design and stress analysis, and mechanical component failures.
• Develop mechanical design concepts using 3D modeling software and generate 2D drawings.
• Prototyping and testing mechanical systems.
• Perform technical reviews to ensure quality and compliance.
• Communicate results with clients and internal teams to ensure alignment with needs.
• Collaborate with engineers across disciplines to develop system-level solutions.
• Oversee junior engineers and mentor them in technical execution.

Skills

Mechanical design

Finite Element Analysis

Thermal hydraulics

CFD

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Job description

Overview

MPR is seeking experienced mechanical engineers for full-time positions in one of our four offices (Alexandria, VA, Salt Lake City, UT, East Lyme, CT, and Burlington, MA). MPR engineers bring their energy, passion, and natural curiosity to help solve unique and challenging problems for clients spanning the power and energy, federal services, and health and life sciences industries. Successful candidates will contribute to and lead projects involving the design, analysis, and evaluation of mechanical systems and components within industrial facilities. Work is accomplished by multi-disciplinary integrated project teams, typically beginning with problem definition, through detailed analysis, all the way through delivering and communicating the solution.

MPR is an adaptive technical organization that identifies and responds to our clients' needs while helping them frame their problems into workable technical and managerial solutions. We provide top-tier engineering services by focusing on first principles and relying on a team of multi-disciplined engineers with expertise in fluid flow, thermodynamics, stress analysis, finite element analysis, mechanical design, materials, circuit design, software development, and instrumentation and controls. MPR hires engineers from a wide variety of disciplines and expects all engineers to routinely work across multiple disciplines.

MPR seeks individuals with an interest in expanding their technical, leadership, and business capabilities. Expected career progression includes developing technical expertise, expanding leadership skills (e.g., project management, administrative supervision, and mentoring), and developing stronger business acumen (e.g., client relationships and business development). Typical projects last 2–12 months and are completed by project teams of 2–10 engineers. At any one point, you may be engaged in 2–3 (or more) projects simultaneously, which provides for a diverse and fulfilling work experience.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Plan and lead mechanical design and analysis efforts of multi-discipline system designs, including coaching and mentoring other engineers through execution of the work,
• Develop analytical solutions in a range of technical areas including thermal hydraulics (fluid flow, heat transfer, transient and steady-state evaluations), structural design and stress analysis (design of structures, code compliance and acceptability), and mechanical component failures and degradation (pumps, valves, turbines, piping systems).
• Develop mechanical design concepts using 3D modeling software and generate 2D manufacturing drawings.
• Prototyping and testing a variety of mechanical systems.
• Perform technical reviews of internal and external designs or analyses to ensure quality and compliance.
• Communicate results internally and externally, interfacing directly with clients to understand requirements, communicate progress, and ensure technical solutions align with client needs.
• Collaborate with engineers of all disciplines to evaluate all facets of technical problems and develop comprehensive system-level solutions.
• Oversee more junior engineers' work efforts and mentor them in technical execution and professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline required.
• 2–7 years' work experience in the field of mechanical design and/or analysis, preferably with development of diverse skillsets (fluid dynamics, civil/structural, materials, design for manufacturing, etc.).
• Experience successfully working in a collaborative integrated design team is essential.

Technical ExperienceWe do not expect that every candidate will possess all of the skills listed below, but are eager to work with candidates who demonstrate some of the skills below and a willingness to learn the following:

• Strong skills in mechanical design/design for manufacturing and structural/thermal hydraulic analysis
• Experience developing technical solutions based on analysis or testing
• Experience with 3D modeling software such as SolidWorks
• Experience with structural and/or CFD Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software such as ANSYS.
• Experience designing, maintaining, or operating mechanical components in industrial systems.
• Strong analytical skills with fundamental understanding of the underlying first principles of engineering.

Leadership & Communication Skills

• Persistent, questioning attitude and the ability to accept that in others.
• Ability to multi-task across teams of engineers and managers on various projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across functional teams.
• Ability to accept and grow from constructive feedback.
• Motivated to expand skills and knowledge, as well as tackle new problems and take on new responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Solution-oriented with a goal of enabling our client’s success.

Required

This position involves Export Control compliance requirements, therefore a “US Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R § 120.15 is required. “US Person” includes US Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Logistics

Locations: Alexandria VA (HQ), East Lyme CT, Burlington MA, or Salt Lake City UT

Position Type: Full-time, exempt

Travel: 10–20% as required by project assignments, including client sites, test facilities, supplier facilities, and visits between MPR offices

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $150,000 annually. Actual compensation is based on several factors, including but not limited to experience, internal parity, education, and skills. We offer comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision), flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts, a 401(k) and profit sharing, as well as paid time off.

Work Environment: Collaborative and technically rigorous—you'll work on multiple concurrent projects across different industries, mentor engineers across technical domains, and continuously expand your expertise in a high-performance culture built on trust and respect.

About MPR

Founded in 1964, MPR Associates provides independent engineering and consulting services to clients in the power and energy, federal, and life sciences sectors. The firm operates throughout the United States and internationally, making challenging projects successful by delivering safe and reliable technical solutions across the entire project lifecycle. Our independence from any single technology vendor or corporate parent allows us to provide objective technical advice and maintain broad expertise across the nuclear industry.

What truly sets MPR apart from our peers is:

The Work: Work across multiple industries and technologies—power and energy, federal services, and health and life sciences—rather than narrowing into one vendor's design. You'll serve as an independent technical authority using first-principles problem-solving, not repetitive vendor-specific calculations. A broad client base means direct interaction with facility owners, regulators, and research institutions—and insulation from the fate of any single technology. You'll also have autonomy to identify and pursue new projects that align with your expertise and interests.

The Culture: Technical rigor and first-principles thinking define MPR's approach—not vendor procedures or corporate mandates. You'll work alongside bright, motivated engineers and project managers across mechanical, civil, electrical, chemical, and materials disciplines. Questioning attitudes and constructive feedback are valued here; technical accuracy matters more than hierarchy. It's a high-performance culture built on trust and respect since 1964.

Career Development: Establish yourself as a recognized technical authority across engineering disciplines, not just within one narrow specialty. You'll maintain technical breadth that keeps you relevant across industries while growing as a leader through mentorship, project management, client engagement, and business development.

The below statement and graphic are required by law to remain on all job descriptions.

MPR Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, who participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other classification as required by applicable laws. MPR is a certified Virginia Values Veterans (V3) employer.