Principal Mechanical Engineer

The Home Depot; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Home Depot is seeking an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide technical leadership for complex electromechanical automation systems from concept through production. You will guide architecture, design, and commercialization while partnering across mechanical, electrical, embedded software, controls, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.

You will lead cross-functional product development programs, establish validation strategies, and drive manufacturability,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years in mechanical engineering developing complex electromechanical products.
• Strong cross-functional leadership across mechanical, electrical, software, controls, and manufacturing.
• Experience with DFM/ DFA/ DFS/ DFR and risk management in product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and commercialization of electromechanical systems.
• Define system requirements and align across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Direct cross-functional development programs from concept to production ramp-up.
• Develop validation strategies including prototypes, design verification, and reliability testing.
• Mentor engineers and help establish world-class engineering practices.

Skills

Mechanical design

Product development

Systems engineering

DFM/ DFA/ DFS/ DFR

3D CAD (SolidWorks/Creo/NX/Inventor)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

Inventor

Job description

Req186507

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide technical leadership in the development of complex electromechanical automation systems. This role will lead the architecture, design, and commercialization of innovative products from concept through production, while partnering across engineering disciplines and business functions to deliver reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions. The ideal candidate combines deep mechanical engineering expertise with strong systems thinking, exceptional technical judgment, and a proven ability to lead cross-functional product development efforts. As a senior technical leader, you will influence engineering strategy, mentor technical talent, and help establish world-class engineering practices that enable organizational growth and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply extensive experience to bring complex electromechanical products from concept through commercialization, balancing product performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and cost objectives.
• Define product and system requirements while driving alignment across mechanical, electrical, embedded software, controls, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and field service teams.
• Lead strategic, cross-functional product development programs from initial concept, technical planning, and architecture through product launch, manufacturing ramp-up, and field deployment.
• Develop comprehensive product validation strategies, including proof-of-concept prototypes, engineering validation, design verification, system validation, and reliability testing.
• Provide technical leadership in the design of innovative mechanisms, structural systems, and integrated electromechanical assemblies, applying strong engineering judgment and mechanical intuition to solve complex technical challenges.
• Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Serviceability (DFS), Design for Reliability (DFR), and cost optimization initiatives to ensure successful transition from development into production and long-term product support.
• Make and influence critical technical decisions involving system architecture, engineering tradeoffs, technology selection, risk management, and development priorities while ensuring alignment with business strategy and customer needs.
• Establish and maintain high standards for engineering excellence, product reliability, maintainability, safety, regulatory compliance, and overall design quality throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to evaluate technologies, resolve technical challenges, improve quality, and optimize production readiness.
• Mentor and develop mechanical engineers through technical coaching, design reviews, knowledge sharing, recruiting, interviewing, and career development initiatives.
• Strengthen organizational capability by improving engineering processes, development infrastructure, design documentation, product lifecycle management practices, and operational excellence as the company scales.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to engineering leadership, influencing long-term technology strategy and product roadmaps.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience developing complex electromechanical products, with demonstrated success leading products from concept through commercialization.
• Deep expertise in mechanical design, machine design, precision mechanisms, structural analysis, materials selection, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and influencing technical decisions across multiple disciplines.
• Strong understanding of product development methodologies, stage-gate processes, systems engineering principles, and technical risk management.
• Extensive experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Serviceability (DFS), Design for Reliability (DFR), tolerance analysis, and cost optimization.
• Experience developing and executing verification and validation plans, including prototype evaluation, design verification, system validation, and reliability testing.
• Proficiency with modern 3D CAD platforms (such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or Inventor) and engineering analysis tools.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to engineering teams, executive leadership, suppliers, and customers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing automation equipment, robotics, material handling systems, industrial machinery, or other complex electromechanical systems.
• Knowledge of motion control systems, sensors, pneumatics, servo systems, and controls integration.
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), manufacturing ramp-up, and supplier development.
• Familiarity with PLM systems, FMEA, GD&T, DFMEA/PFMEA, statistical analysis, and reliability engineering methodologies.
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth product development organizations.