Mechanical Engineer ll

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.; Columbia Falls (MT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life/ADD & Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Job summary

Nomad Global Communications Solutions seeks a Mechanical Engineer to design and support mechanical subsystems for Nomad vehicles and platforms. Lead CAD documentation and FE analyses, ensuring compliance with codes and customer requirements while collaborating with manufacturing, QA, and project teams.

The role focuses on end-to-end design ownership, prototype involvement, and production release support, with travel as needed to support programs and customers.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited BS in Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• 2–5 years Mechanical Engineering experience.
• Must have CAD experience; SolidWorks preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support mechanical systems for Nomad vehicles and platforms.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable codes, safety standards, and customer requirements.
• Create CAD documentation including top levels, sub-assemblies, and parts.
• Use FEA to analyze designs and optimize through testing and documentation.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, and Project Management teams.
• Travel as needed and support manufacturing troubleshooting.

Skills

CAD

SolidWorks

FEA

Design

Cross-functional

Travel

Education

ABET-accredited BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Overview: Nomad Global Communications Solutions is a leading provider of communication and response products serving a wide variety of customers. Our purpose is to be the solution when every minute matters. We seek a candidate that is self-inspired to learn and demonstrates a high degree of customer service while positively contributing to our team.

Mechanical Engineers (ME) work is a critical function in the engineering process, being responsible for taking designs from concept through full production documentation. Accuracy and completeness must be maintained through all levels of design to provide complete Bill of Materials (BOMs) and production worthy CAD models/ drawings to the manufacturing teams. All ME deliverables must meet or exceed Nomad Global Communication Solutions’ standards of excellence.

Mechanical Engineers must apply practical engineering science and technologies to designs. These include application of fluid mechanics, materials, structures, dynamics, basic electrical theory, and machine component design. Expertise in raw material selection, manufacturing processes (welding, machining, & sheet metal), quality control, and concentration on cost mitigation are also core required competencies.

Depending on level (I–V), Engineers progress from learning foundational engineering practices and supporting designs to independently leading complex platform architectures, mentoring others, and driving technical strategy across the organization.

Career Growth: Mechanical Engineers at Nomad GCS progress through five levels based on demonstrated technical mastery, independence, leadership, and impact. Advancement is supported through mentorship, project ownership, and alignment with Nomad’s Core Values.

Organizational Structure: Nomad Engineering is organized into Teams and Disciplines within the Innovative Solutions Division.

Teams:

• Team 1 (Standards and Modularity): Builds and maintains engineering standards, modules, templates, and rules enabling repeatability and scale.
• Team 2 (Design): Executes project-level engineering using established standards and less complex custom configurations.
• Team 3 (Advanced): Develops novel systems and resolves first-of-kind engineering challenges.
• Team 4 (Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering): Ensures manufacturability, safety, engineering intent, efficiency, and continuous improvement throughout Production.
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Software Engineering

A Mechanical Engineer may be temporarily assigned to one or more of the four Teams. These teams include Standards & Modularity, Design Engineering, Advanced Engineering, and/or Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering.

Core Responsibilities – All Levels:

• Design, develop, and support mechanical systems for Nomad vehicles and platforms.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable codes, safety standards, and customer requirements.
• Support manufacturing by answering technical questions, resolving build issues, and improving design clarity.
• Participate in design reviews, testing, validation, and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other Engineering disciplines, Production, Quality, and Project Management teams.
• Apply continuous improvement principles to improve product quality, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Uphold and model Nomad Core Values in all work.
• Create CAD documentation for projects, including top levels assemblies, sub-assemblies, and parts.
• Use FEA to analyze designs: determine stress, create tests to verify results, document analysis, and change designs as needed to optimize.
• Create, implement, supervise, and document tests verifying designs meet customer requirements.
• Complete all analyses, documentation, and drawings required for Production within established time frames as agreed upon by the Operations Team.
• Communicate with vendors and clients to troubleshoot designs, get information on new designs, and obtain specifications/drawings/models of components.
• Track and record work hours for each specific project daily.
• Be willing to travel as needed by Management.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Mechanical Engineer ll – Independent Contributor

• Independently design mechanical subsystems and assemblies for assigned projects.
• Experience owning mechanical design tasks end-to-end for small to mid-sized subsystems.
• Create complete, production-ready drawings and documentation.
• Hands-on involvement with prototype builds and failure investigation.
• Experience releasing designs to manufacturing and supporting early production.
  • Regular application of codes, standards, and best practices with minimal oversight in designs.
• Support manufacturing troubleshooting and resolve moderate design issues.
• Participate actively in design reviews and cross-functional collaboration.
• Perform basic system-level testing and validation.
• Demonstrate consistent quality, organization, and accountability in deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to estimate effort, manage priorities, and meet engineering schedules.
• Effective written and verbal communication with manufacturing, supply chain, and peers.
• Demonstrated design ownership
• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 2-5 years Mechanical Engineering experience.

Progression signal: Can be trusted to deliver correct, manufacturable designs without close supervision.

Basic Knowledge Progression:

• Level l: Foundational understanding of mechanical theory, documentation, and standards.
• Level ll: Strong working knowledge of systems, codes, and manufacturing support.
• Level lll: System-level expertise and troubleshooting mastery.
• Level lV: Platform-level architecture and technical leadership.
• Level V: Enterprise-level strategy, innovation, and mentorship.

Experience and Skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field preferred. Degree must be ABET accredited.
• 2-5 years Mechanical Engineering experience.
• Must have CAD experience. SolidWorks preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand and sit for extended periods.
• Manual dexterity to operate office equipment.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Occasional climbing or hands-on testing activities.
• Ability to work in office, shop, and vehicle environments as needed.
• Ability to work safely around energized systems when required.
• Must be able to travel as needed on occasion.
• Combination of office, production floor, and vehicle-based environments.
• Exposure to manufacturing noise, electrical/ manufacturing equipment, and testing environments.
• PPE required when entering production or testing areas.
• Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Education Reimbursement

Kratos Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy,genetic information, disability, status as aprotected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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