Principal Mechanical Engineer - Aerospace (Onsite, 9/80)

Universal Avionics; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with safe harbor match within 2

Every other Friday off

Vacation, sick time, and paid holidays

Wellness and employee assistance

Job summary

Universal Avionics in Duluth, GA is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to own complex electromechanical and opto‑mechanical designs for aerospace avionics. You will translate requirements into reliable hardware, perform thermal and structural analyses, create prototypes, and support environmental qualification and sustaining activities.

You will collaborate across engineering disciplines, work from concept to qualification, and ensure designs meet FAA/RTCA/MIL-STD standards while aligning

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years electromechanical design experience.
• Strong experience with thermal and structural finite element analysis.
• Proficiency with PTC Creo 3D CAD.
• Practical knowledge of PCB assemblies and the mechanical considerations involved in electronic product design.
• Experience designing for machining/mill operations and sheet‑metal fabrication.
• 5+ years working within integrated, multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ability to independently define problems, evaluate limited or incomplete information, and develop sound engineering solutions.
• Strong understanding of how analysis, prototyping, testing, and qualification work together to validate a design.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality environments.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines while maintaining ownership of complex mechanical engineering assignments.

Responsibilities

• Turn aerospace and product requirements into practical, reliable mechanical and opto-mechanical designs.
• Own complex mechanical design activities using PTC Creo, from early concepts through detailed product definition.
• Apply thermal and structural analysis to evaluate design performance and reliability before hardware reaches qualification.
• Validate analytical results through mock-ups, prototypes, and hands‑on testing.
• Support environmental qualification activities and help resolve technical challenges identified during testing.
• Design with the realities of aerospace requirements in mind, including applicable FAA, RTCA, ARINC, and MIL-STD considerations.
• Work with PCB assemblies, machined components, and sheet‑metal designs to create integrated electromechanical solutions.
• Collaborate across engineering functions to ensure mechanical designs align with broader system and product requirements.
• Provide technical support for sustaining engineering and existing-product challenges.
• Help maintain effective engineering design and configuration practices using PTC Creo and Windchill.
• Apply independent technical judgment to complex assignments where the solution may not always be obvious.

Skills

Electromechanical design

Thermal/structural FEA

PTC Creo CAD

Machining & sheet-metal

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent problem solving

Education

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Windchill

PTC Creo

Job description

Universal Avionics in Duluth, GA is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to own complex electromechanical and opto‑mechanical designs for aerospace avionics. You will translate requirements into reliable hardware, perform thermal and structural analyses, create prototypes, and support environmental qualification and sustaining activities.

You will collaborate across engineering disciplines, work from concept to qualification, and ensure designs meet FAA/RTCA/MIL-STD standards while aligning