Mechanical Engineer

Leidos; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support NIWC Pacific within the Undersea Systems Division. You will design, develop, and deploy payloads, UUVs, and related systems, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to meet mission requirements. A Secret Clearance is required.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, test, and integration at-sea, with opportunities for prototyping, analysis, and rapid fabrication in San Diego and occasional travel for testing and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field with 6 years of applicable experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
• Experience with mechanical engineering design and analysis, as well as test and evaluation of mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CAD design, preferably with Solid Edge, alternate in SolidWorks.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and have excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver mechanical systems based on system requirements for deployment at sea.
• Mechanical engineering design using CAD, drawings, analysis, and prototype fabrication for at-sea and pier-side tests.
• Perform test and evaluation of mechanical systems and assist with integration with other subsystems.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to research detection technologies and support NIWC Pacific mission.

Skills

CAD design

Mechanical analysis

Team collaboration

Test & evaluation

Underwater systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Solid Edge

SolidWorks

Job description

Description

The Leidos Undersea Systems Division (USD) team currently has an opening for a Mechanical Engineer supporting NIWC Pacific. This is an exciting opportunity to use your experience helping the NIWC Pacific mission in the design, development, and deployment of payloads, UUV systems, and other technologies. The candidate will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of technicians, engineers, and scientists to research detection technologies, interface with users to understand needs and requirements, and field complete solutions. This position will require the candidate to obtain and hold a Secret Clearance.

• Primary Responsibilities:
  • The Mechanical Engineer will work with a small team of engineers and technicians in development, test, and delivery of mechanical systems based on system requirements. Development includes design, implementation, and integration of mechanical hardware or sensors onto systems for deployment at-sea. Most development and testing will be conducted in San Diego; however, engineers may occasionally be asked to travel in support of testing and/or operations in other locations both in the U.S. and abroad. The Mechanical Engineer will perform tasks such as mechanical engineering design using Computer Aided Design (CAD), mechanical drawings, analysis on underwater systems, provide test and evaluation, engineering, and prototype fabrication for various at-sea and pier-side systems and component tests.
• Basic Qualifications:
  • The minimum requirements for this position include:

    Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field with 6 years of applicable experience.

    Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.

    Must have experience with mechanical engineering design and analysis, as well as test and evaluation of mechanical systems.

    Must be proficient in CAD design, preferably with Solid edge, alternate in SolidWorks.

    Must be able to work effectively in a team environment and have excellent communication skills.

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Knowledge of underwater systems, UUVs, or other related technologies with deep-rated systems (3,000-11,000m)
  • Experience in design work with Subsea Mechanical, CCA chassis mounting, CCA and system thermal analysis.
  • Experience with test and evaluation of at-sea systems.
  • Involvement with rapid prototyping for test and system hardware.
  • FEA expertise: ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation, Abaqus, or Nastran for structural and thermal analysis.
  • CFD expertise: ANSYS, SolidWorks Flow Simulation or similar.
  • Python/Matlab for automation, data analysis, or design optimization.
  • Experience working in a fast-paced, research, development, testing, and evaluation environment.
  • Previous experience working with government agencies, particularly NIWC Pacific, is a plus.

• Electro-Mechanical sub-sea system testing:
  • Assembly and refurb of subsystem in the test event.
  • Assist/lead benchtop testing with electronics and software engineers.
  • At sea testing of systems.
  • Curating test objectives and test milestones at the subsystem level to meet major system milestones.
• Physical ability to:
  • Navigate lab, office, and warehouse environments—including frequent movement around piers, docks, and facility spaces with the ability to stoop, kneel, reach for extended periods, and transport objects weighing up to 50 lbs. across the facility.
  • Use hands to operate machinery, tools, and computer equipment.
  • Climb ladders up to 20 ft and work comfortably in loud production environments, various temperatures, and inclement weather. This includes a willingness to work aboard marine vessels of various sizes, occasionally on an overnight basis.
  • Willingness to travel occasionally in support of testing activities.

SUBSEAMSS

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

August 4, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

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Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.