Mechanical Engineering Lead

N4 Solutions, LLC; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

N4 Solutions, LLC seeks a Mechanical Engineering Lead to guide senior R&D activities focused on mechanical engineering, structural integrity, and environmental testing of Navy materials and components. You will supervise test planning, execution, data analysis, and technical reporting, ensuring quality and alignment with Navy objectives.

The role involves coordinating multidisciplinary teams, developing robust test plans, and advancing fleet-relevant technology transitions while maintaining

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Engineering, Physical Science, or equivalent
• 8+ years in a research environment with mechanical engineering/materials testing background
• Senior R&D technical lead for complex programs
• Experience in Navy environments and DON/DOW programs
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering, structural integrity testing, and materials behavior
• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems
• Familiarity with Navy shipboard/field test environments and fleet-transition activities
• Active Secret security clearance required

Responsibilities

• Provide senior R&D leadership for mechanical engineering, structural integrity, materials performance, and component testing programs for Navy platforms.
• Lead planning, development, and execution of structural integrity tests on metals and composites.
• Develop and review test plans measuring durability, fatigue, stiffness, and other properties.
• Incorporate Navy environmental variables (seawater, seawater spray, temperature, load) into test programs.
• Oversee test design, execution, data analysis, and reporting from test beds to fleet transition.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary R&D activities across mechanical engineering, materials science, corrosion, coatings, fabrication, instrumentation.
• Use software to evaluate data, compare performance, and support numerical analyses.
• Ensure compliance with Navy/DoD requirements and QA plans.

Skills

Senior R&D leadership

Security clearance

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Master of Science or PhD in Engineering/Physical Science

Tools

Test instrumentation

Data acquisition

Monitoring and control systems

Job description

N4 Solutions, LLC offers our public and private sector clients the collective intellectual knowledge, expertise, and experience of our company and associates to help our customers evaluate, collaborate, innovate, and create business, technology, and scientific solutions that enable them to accomplish their mission and achieve organizational objectives. With the growth of the company, we are seeking a highly motivated and hard-working mechanical engineering professional to join our team. The successful candidate will work in a high-paced and rewarding work environment.

JOB DESCRIPTION/DUTIES:

The Mechanical Engineering Lead will serve as a senior Research and Development (R&D) technical leader supporting NRL, with a primary focus on mechanical engineering, structural integrity, and environmental testing of Navy materials and components. The position will lead, coordinate, and conduct structural integrity testing of metallic alloys, non-metallic materials, bearings, and other components to evaluate durability, fatigue, static and dynamic stiffness, and related performance characteristics. The successful candidate will oversee complex R&D activities from test planning and experimental design through test execution, data analysis, technical reporting, and fleet-relevant technology transition while ensuring technical quality and alignment with Navy mission and sponsored-program objectives.

• Provide senior R&D technical leadership for mechanical engineering, structural integrity, materials performance, and component testing programs supporting Navy ships, submarines, aircraft, marine structures, and other warfighting platforms.
• Lead the planning, development, and execution of structural integrity tests on metallic alloys, non-metallic materials, bearings, and other Navy-relevant components and systems.
• Develop and review test plans that measure durability, fatigue, static stiffness, dynamic stiffness, mechanical performance, and other properties necessary to evaluate material and component suitability for Navy applications.
• Incorporate Navy-relevant environmental parameters into test programs, including exposure to natural seawater, periodic sea spray, atmospheric conditions, temperature, load, cycling, and other operational variables that may affect material or component performance.
• Direct fundamental and applied studies evaluating the effects of structural material selection, fabrication techniques, heat treatment, welding, and mechanical processes on performance, operation, and degradation.
• Plan and oversee mechanical and environmental test programs designed to characterize material properties, degradation mechanisms, durability, fatigue behavior, and performance under representative naval operating conditions.
• Evaluate physio-mechanical effects associated with bonding, fastening, adhesives, additive manufacturing, surface modification or enhancement, wear, environmental exposure, stress and strain, inhibitors or additives, and crevice geometry as applicable to assigned R&D programs.
• Develop experimental designs, instrumentation approaches, data requirements, quality controls, acceptance criteria, and test procedures to ensure repeatable, defensible, and technically sound mechanical test results.
• Oversee test setup, instrumentation validation, data acquisition, monitoring, and control activities to assure test integrity and reliable measurement of structural and mechanical performance.
• Lead analysis and interpretation of mechanical test data to identify failure mechanisms, performance trends, degradation behavior, service-life implications, and opportunities for material or design improvement.
• Support the design, procurement, fabrication, construction, and evaluation of experimental platforms, test beds, machinery, piping systems, mockups, fixtures, and simulated environments required for mechanical and structural testing.
• Use analytical, statistical, modeling, and engineering software to evaluate test data, compare material and component performance, support numerical analyses, and develop technically defensible conclusions and recommendations.
• Support laboratory, waterfront, shipboard, field, and other Navy-relevant test and evaluation activities involving materials, components, structures, machinery, and environmental exposure.
• Plan and support technology demonstrations, proof-of-concept evaluations, and transition activities for materials, components, structural systems, and mechanical technologies intended to improve readiness, durability, maintainability, and service life.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary R&D activities involving mechanical engineering, materials science, corrosion science, coatings, fabrication, instrumentation, and data analysis to ensure integrated execution of complex test programs.
• Ensure scientific and engineering work is performed under approved test, quality assurance, safety, and data-management plans and in accordance with applicable Navy, DoD, laboratory, and technical requirements.
• Monitor technical progress, risks, and milestones against established project plans for assigned mechanical engineering R&D efforts and communicate status to NRL and program sponsors.
• Participate in technical reviews, progress meetings, and Integrated Product Team (IPT) activities and provide mechanical engineering and structural integrity subject matter expertise to NRL, NAVSEA, Department of the Navy, Department of War, shipyards, fleet organizations, and industry stakeholders.
• Prepare, review, and contribute to test plans, technical reports, engineering analyses, performance specifications, guidance documents, presentations, and other technical deliverables supporting mechanical testing, materials evaluation, and fleet technology transition.
• Mentor technical staff, promote disciplined scientific and engineering methods, and support knowledge transfer across multidisciplinary teams performing mechanical testing, materials, corrosion, coatings, fabrication, and technology-transition RDT&E

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/EXPERTISE:

• Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering, Physical Science, or equivalent from an accredited university. Years of experience may be substituted for advanced degree.
• Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated experience supporting a research environment with an appropriate knowledge base related to mechanical engineering, structural integrity, materials testing, mechanical systems, or other technical areas within the Statement of Work.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a senior Research and Development (R&D) technical lead for complex scientific or engineering programs.
• Strong science and engineering credentials with expertise in applied and industrial Navy environments and proven ability to administer programs sponsored by the Department of the Navy and Department of War (DON and DOW).
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, structural integrity testing, materials behavior, fatigue, durability, static and dynamic stiffness, environmental testing, and mechanical performance evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing structural or mechanical test programs for metallic alloys, non-metallic materials, bearings, machinery, components, or comparable engineered systems.
• Experience developing test plans that incorporate environmental exposure and operational variables such as seawater, sea spray, temperature, load, cycling, stress, strain, and other representative service conditions.
• Experience evaluating the effects of material selection, fabrication, heat treatment, welding, bonding, fastening, additive manufacturing, wear, or related manufacturing and mechanical processes on structural performance is strongly preferred.
• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, monitoring and control systems, experimental setup, validation, and analysis of mechanical or structural performance data.
• Experience designing or supporting experimental platforms, test fixtures, machinery, piping systems, mockups, or simulated environments for laboratory or field testing is preferred.
• Familiarity with Navy mechanical systems, shipboard or waterfront test environments, technical standards, field demonstrations, and fleet technology-transition activities is preferred.
• Excellent technical writing, analytical, leadership, communication, and stakeholder-coordination skills.
• Ability to support laboratory, waterfront, shipboard, and field activities and occasional travel to Navy, DoD, shipyard, or other test locations.
• Active Secret security clearance required

LOCATION:

• Washington, DC

The N4 Solutions Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. N4 Solutions hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications and achievements for the job to be filled.