Mechanical Engineer - team Lead

ZipRecruiter; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a Mechanical Engineer to drive new product development for ruggedized military electronics, ensuring compliance with strict environmental standards. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in mechanical design, leadership, and advanced CAD proficiency. You'll lead a growing team while contributing to innovative engineering projects in defense and aerospace.

Benefits

Leadership role in product development

Mentorship opportunities

Strong support from leadership

Company culture valuing creativity and excellence

Qualifications

• 8+ years of mechanical design experience, with at least 2 years in leadership.
• Expertise in MIL-standard environmental testing and qualification.
• Advanced proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Pro-E or CATIA).

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical engineering in product development aligned with goals.
• Oversee mechanical design and testing for military electronics.
• Guide the development of mechanical deliverables like CAD models.

Skills

Mechanical Design

Solid Modeling

Thermal Analysis

Leadership

Communication

DFM

Manufacturing Processes

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced Degree in Related Field

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Pro-E

CATIA

Job description

Job Description

US Citizenship required

Responsibilities:

• Lead mechanical engineering for new product development activities to align with customer requirements and corporate goals.
• Perform and oversee mechanical design, analysis, and testing of ruggedized military ground and airborne electronics.
• Drive compliance to environmental and EMI/EMC requirements such as MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160.
• Coordinate and participate in internal design reviews, providing guidance on design reuse, DFM, DFT, and product transition.
• Guide the development and review of mechanical deliverables including 3D CAD models, component/assembly drawings, ICDs, BOMs, test plans, and reports.
• Serve as subject matter expert for environmental validation testing and structural/thermal analysis.
• Mentor mechanical engineers in advanced design practices and qualification testing to expand team capabilities.
• Coordinate work assignments with tech leads and program managers, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and budget.
• Support company-wide engineering initiatives and contribute to standardization and continuous improvement efforts.
• Communicate regularly with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment on technical progress, risks, and priorities.

Requirements:

• B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years of mechanical design experience with 2+ years in a leadership or mentoring capacity.
• Advanced proficiency in solid modeling using SolidWorks or other CAD tools such as Pro-E or CATIA.
• Strong experience with FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS) for structural and thermal simulation.
• Demonstrated expertise in DFM, GD&T, and producing manufacturing drawings for production environments.
• Proven experience in MIL-standard environmental and EMC/EMI qualification testing (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, DO-160).
• Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes including machining, injection molding, rapid prototyping, and sheet metal fabrication.

Leadership & Communication Skills:

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and grow an engineering team in a high-performance environment.
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary projects with program managers and technical leads.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to clearly convey technical information and guide team discussions.
• Skilled in developing and reviewing project documentation including ICDs, test plans (ATP/QTP), and milestone review presentations (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Effective planner with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

What You Can Expect:

• A leadership role in developing next-generation ruggedized products for defense and aerospace customers.
• The opportunity to guide a growing mechanical engineering team through innovation and mentorship.
• A company culture that values creativity, excellence, and accountability.
• Support from senior technical and business leadership to deliver successful outcomes and grow your career.