Mechanical Engineer

DESE Research, Inc.; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Flexible work schedules

Education reimbursement program

401k with profit sharing

Job summary

DESE Research, Inc. in Huntsville, AL seeks a Mechanical Engineer to support design, analysis, integration, and validation of aerospace/defense systems throughout the product lifecycle.

The role emphasizes mechanical design, structural/thermal analyses, and model-based tooling. The candidate should have 2+ years of relevant experience and be capable of collaborating across engineering teams while pursuing DoD security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field.
• 2+ years in mechanical/structural/thermal analysis or product development.
• Experience with FE methods and thermal modeling.
• Proficiency in engineering software such as ANSYS, NX/Simcenter, NASTRAN, LS-DYNA, or equivalent.
• CAD experience with Siemens NX, Creo, or SolidWorks.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanics, heat transfer, dynamics, and thermodynamics.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for analysis and automation.
• Ability to obtain DoD Secret Clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Support design, analysis, and integration of aerospace/defense hardware across the lifecycle.
• Perform structural, thermal, dynamic, vibration, and shock analyses as needed.
• Develop simulation models to evaluate performance under loading conditions.
• Conduct trade studies and provide recommendations on performance, reliability, and cost.
• Develop and evaluate finite element models for structural/thermal analyses.
• Assist with hardware development, packaging, and system integration.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support integrated product development.
• Use standard engineering tools to support design decisions and validate performance.
• Develop automation scripts and data processing tools with MATLAB or Python.
• Prepare technical reports, documentation, and customer deliverables for reviews.
• Support prototype development, environmental testing, qualification, and verification.
• Investigate anomalies and assist with root-cause and corrective actions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline

Tools

ANSYS

NX/Simcenter

NASTRAN

Thermal Desktop

SINDA

MSC.ADAMS

LS-DYNA

Siemens NX

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

DESE is seeking a Mechanical Engineer in Huntsville, AL. The Mechanical Engineer supports the design, analysis, integration, and validation of advanced aerospace and defense systems throughout the product development lifecycle. This role performs engineering analyses and develops mechanical solutions that influence system performance, reliability, and mission success. The engineer will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support hardware development from concept through design, qualification, manufacturing, testing, and production.

The ideal candidate possesses experience in mechanical design, structural analysis, thermal analysis, dynamics, or related engineering disciplines and enjoys solving complex technical challenges in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, development, analysis, and integration of aerospace and defense hardware throughout the product lifecycle.
• Perform mechanical engineering analyses including structural, thermal, dynamic, vibration, shock, and other engineering evaluations as required.
• Develop analytical and simulation models to evaluate system performance under operational and environmental loading conditions.
• Conduct engineering trade studies and provide technical recommendations to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Develop and evaluate finite element models to support structural and thermal analyses.
• Support mechanical design activities including component development, packaging, mechanisms, and hardware integration.
• Collaborate with systems, structural, manufacturing, electrical, software, and test engineering teams to support integrated product development.
• Utilize industry-standard engineering tools to perform analyses, support design decisions, and validate system performance.
• Develop automation scripts and data processing tools using MATLAB, Python, or equivalent programming languages.
• Prepare technical reports, engineering documentation, presentations, and customer deliverables supporting design reviews and program milestones.
• Support prototype development, system integration, environmental testing, qualification, verification, and correlation of analytical models with test data.
• Investigate engineering anomalies and support root cause and corrective action efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of experience supporting mechanical engineering, structural analysis, thermal analysis, product development, or related engineering activities.
• Experience performing engineering analyses using finite element methods, thermal modeling, dynamics, or other analytical techniques.
• Experience using one or more engineering software packages such as ANSYS, NX/Simcenter, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, SINDA, MSC ADAMS, LS-DYNA, or equivalent.
• Experience with CAD software such as Siemens NX, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals including mechanics of materials, heat transfer, dynamics, structural analysis, or thermodynamics.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or equivalent programming languages for engineering analysis and automation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance; U.S. Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting aerospace, missile, defense, or space programs.
• Experience with mechanical hardware design and product development.
• Experience correlating analytical models with structural, thermal, vibration, or environmental test data.
• Familiarity with qualification, environmental, vibration, thermal vacuum, or flight testing.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) or digital engineering environments.
• Knowledge of military, aerospace, and industry engineering standards.
• Experience supporting hardware from concept through production.

About DESE

For the past 43 years, DESE has provided industry-leading technical and engineering solutions in the fields of Defense, Energy, Space, and Environment. As a small, family-oriented business, DESE provides a compelling benefits package including a generous profit-sharing plan, competitive salaries, and perhaps most importantly, the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals leveraging cutting-edge technologies to solve complex and engaging problems.

Why employees love working for DESE:

• Competitive health, dental and vision insurance with affordable premiums
• Flexible work schedules
• Two different flexible spending account options
• Company paid life insurance with options for employee paid additional
• Performance bonus program
• Education reimbursement program
• Company paid personal leave for approved philanthropic activities
• Vacation, Sick & Holiday leave
• Robust 401k profit sharing plan
• Opportunities for internal promotions
• Employee referral incentive program
• Rewards and gifts for service anniversaries

Disability Accommodation for Applicants - DESE Research, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in its job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the following alternative email address or phone number to contact us about your interest in employment with us: [e-mail] or 256-837-8004x123.