Senior Mechanical Engineer

NESC Staffing Corp.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

NESC Staffing Corp. seeks a senior mechanical engineer to design and support mission‑critical, secure electronic systems for defense, aerospace, and secure communications.

You will own mechanical architecture from concept to production, including enclosures, shielding, EMI mitigation, and thermal design, while collaborating with electrical and systems engineering teams. The role emphasizes strict adherence to EMI/EMSEC requirements, design for manufacturability, and life‑cycle support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 7–10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, including ownership of electronic enclosures or assemblies.
• Hands-on experience with enclosure and chassis design for electronics.
• Thermal management of electronic systems.
• Experience using PLM software.
• Experience with defense/aerospace standards (DO-160G MIL).
• EMI/EMC testing and mechanical mitigation strategies.
• Ruggedized designs for harsh environments.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical systems and architectures for electronic enclosures and assemblies.
• Own mechanical architecture from requirements through production and sustainment.
• Create 3D CAD models and production drawings using SolidWorks and ASME standards.
• Define tolerances with GD&T and perform stack-up analysis.
• Conduct FEA as part of design validation.
• Support prototype builds, qualification, and environmental testing.
• Collaborate with Electrical, PCB, and Systems Engineering teams.

Skills

Mechanical design

Thermal management

EMI/EMC concepts

Product sustainment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ASME drawings

GD&T

FEA

Job description

Seeking a senior, hands‑on Mechanical Engineer to design and support mission‑critical, secure electronic systems for defense, aerospace, and secure communications applications. This role requires deep technical involvement in enclosures, thermal design, shielding, structural integrity, and manufacturability, while working closely with Electrical, PCB, and Systems Engineering teams.

The ideal candidate thrives in a high‑discipline engineering environment, understands the mechanical implications of EMI/EMSEC‑driven designs, and is comfortable owning designs from concept through production and sustainment.

Core Responsibilities:

• Mechanical System Design & Architecture
• Serve as mechanical design authority for electronic systems operating in secure, mission‑critical environments
• Own mechanical architecture from requirements through production, including:
• Enclosures, frames, and chassis
• Shielding, gasketing, and EMI/EMC mitigation features
• Thermal management (conduction, convection, forced‑air, passive solutions)
• Structural integrity, vibration, and shock considerations
• Translate electrical and system requirements into robust, producible mechanical designs.
• Secure & EMI-Aware Design
• Design mechanical solutions for sheet metal and CNC manufacturing processes that support TEMPEST or TEMPEST‑like mitigation strategies, including:
• Shielded enclosures and covers
• EMI gasketing, seams, bonding, and grounding paths
• Cable ingress/egress control, connector placement, and isolation zones
• Collaborate closely with Electrical Engineering to align enclosure and PCB/layout strategies for emissions control and signal integrity.
• Support system‑level RED/BLACK separation concepts through mechanical partitioning and layout.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and production drawings using SolidWorks and ASME drawing standards.
• Define tolerances using GD&T and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Perform Finite Element Analysis in SolidWorks.
• Define finishes, materials, and fastener strategies for secure, long‑lifecycle products.
• Participate in prototype builds, fit checks, and bring‑up activities.
• Support qualification, compliance, and environmental testing (EMI/EMC, thermal, vibration, shock as applicable).
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration

In This Role You Will:

• Work with electrical and PCB Design Engineers on component placement, stack‑ups, grounding, and shielding effectiveness
• Manufacturing on DFM/DFA, tooling, and assembly processes
• Supply chain on part selection, alternates, and obsolescence mitigation
• Provide mechanical input during system design reviews, risk assessments, and design trades.
• Interface with customers, program managers, and test labs when mechanical design decisions impact performance or compliance.
• Production & Lifecycle Support
• Support transition of designs into production, including documentation, assembly instructions, and test fixtures as needed.
• Provide sustaining engineering support for field issues, updates, and product revisions.
• Design for long‑term availability, serviceability, and configuration control.

Required Experience / Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• 7–10+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience, including ownership of electronic enclosures or assemblies.
• Strong hands‑on experience with:
• Enclosure and chassis design for electronics
• Thermal management of electronic systems
• Proven ability to work effectively in regulated, security‑sensitive engineering environments.
• Experience supporting products from concept through production and sustainment.
• Experience using PLM software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with defense or aerospace product design and application of RTCA/DO-160G or related MIL standards.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC compliance testing and mechanical mitigation strategies.
• Experience with ruggedized designs subject to shock, vibration, and environmental extremes.
• Prior experience serving as a technical lead or senior mechanical authority on multi‑disciplinary programs.
• Desired Attributes
• Detail‑oriented, disciplined engineer with a strong ownership mindset
• Comfortable working across electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing boundaries
• Practical problem solver who balances rigor, schedule, and cost
• Clear communicator who can explain and defend mechanical design decisions