Mechanical Engineer

Patton, LLC; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Patton, LLC is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support design, development, testing, and documentation of mechanical parts and electronic enclosures under senior staff guidance. This hands-on role applies engineering principles, SolidWorks, and structured problem-solving to deliver safe, reliable, manufacturable, and cost-conscious solutions.

The engineer will perform data collection, GD&T-driven drawings, FEA, and collaboration with manufacturing and quality teams to resolve producibility

Qualifications

• B.S. in mechanical engineering or related field with 2–5 years of experience.
• Experience designing sheet metal and CNC parts for low‑volume production.
• Ability to read drawings, tolerances, and BOMs.
• Experience with SolidWorks in coursework, internships, or employment.
• Proficient in MS Office; strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Assist with design and development of mechanical components, assemblies, fixtures, and systems.
• Reverse engineer/update legacy mechanical parts from drawings for manufacturing.
• Collect data and document results (thermal, acoustic, structural).
• Create/update engineering drawings according to ASME standards with GD&T.
• Perform FEA analysis using SolidWorks Simulation.
• Create and revise 3D models, BOMs, documentation, and assembly instructions.
• Support prototyping with internal and external manufacturing partners.
• Conduct verification testing, troubleshooting, and design validation.

Skills

Mechanical design

Problem-solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Safety & ethics

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Associate degree with experience

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PLM

MS Office

Job description

Description

The Mechanical Engineer supports the design, development, testing, and documentation of the mechanical parts and electronic enclosures, under the guidance of senior engineering staff. This hands-on role applies engineering principles, computer-aided design tools (SolidWorks), and structured problem-solving methods to help deliver safe, reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions. The Mechanical Engineer supports the design, development, testing, and documentation of the mechanical parts and electronic enclosures, under the guidance of senior engineering staff. This hands-on role applies engineering principles, computer-aided design tools (SolidWorks), and structured problem-solving methods to help deliver safe, reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the design and development of mechanical components, assemblies, fixtures, and systems.
• Reverse engineer and/or update legacy mechanical parts from drawings for manufacturing.
• Hands‑on data collection and documentation of results i.e. thermal, acoustic, structural.
• Engineering drawing creation and updates according to ASME standards applying necessary GD&T.
• FEA analysis using SolidWorks simulation.
• Create and revise 3D models, bills of materials, technical documentation, and assembly instructions.
• Support prototyping by working directly with internal and external manufacturing.
• Conduct verification testing, troubleshooting, and design validation activities.
• Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback from engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and other stakeholders.
• Work with manufacturing teams and suppliers to resolve design, quality, and producibility issues.
• Manage assigned tasks, communicate progress and technical concerns, and meet project schedules.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, cost reduction, and product-quality initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline with 2-5 years’ experience. Associate’s degree in related field plus experience will be considered.
• Experience in designing sheet metal and CNC’s part for low‑run production.
• Foundational knowledge of mechanics, materials, manufacturing processes, thermodynamics, and engineering drawing practices.
• Experience with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks) through coursework, internships, projects, or employment. Experience with SolidWorks PLM a plus. A SolidWorks competency test will be conducted during the in‑person interview.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, tolerances, and bills of materials.
• Proficiency with MS Office i.e. excel, word, etc.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a small cross‑functional team with an eclectic project schedule.
• Commitment to safety, quality, accuracy, and ethical engineering practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced SolidWorks and drawing skills.
• Experience interpreting and applying MIL standards.
• Electromechanical experience working with EE to create PCB footprints with critical component placement.
• Internship, co‑op, laboratory, or project experience in mechanical design, product development, testing, or manufacturing.
• Exposure to geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, tolerance analysis, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics (airflow), or data‑acquisition tools.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle management, document‑control, or enterprise resource planning systems.
• Knowledge of design for manufacturability, design for assembly, root‑cause analysis, or failure mode and effects analysis.

Core Competencies

• Technical curiosity and willingness to learn
• Structured problem‑solving and sound engineering judgment
• Attention to detail and disciplined documentation
• Collaboration and responsiveness to feedback
• Ownership, adaptability, and time management

Working Conditions

This role may involve work in office, laboratory, prototype, and manufacturing environments. Occasional travel, use of personal protective equipment, or lifting of test equipment and components may be required, subject to the employer’s specific operations and reasonable‑accommodation processes.