Senior Mechanical Engineer

Protingent; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 135,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent Staffing is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to support Navy missions from its Washington, DC client site. You will lead the design and development of aerospace structures and mechanisms, using CAD tools and FEA to drive robust hardware from concept through testing.

The role requires hands-on aerospace hardware experience, GD&T mastery, and the ability to work independently within a multi-disciplinary team. Security clearance (TS/SCI) and US citizenship are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of proven aerospace mechanical design experience.
• Direct experience with aerospace/spacecraft hardware design and standards.

Responsibilities

• Designs and directs integration of structural components and mechanical assemblies for space/air platforms.
• Owns subsystems from concept through environmental testing, ensuring hardware meets requirements.
• Create detailed 3D CAD models and fabrication drawings.
• Perform preliminary structural and thermal finite element analysis (FEA).
• Collaborate with Integration and Test teams to oversee assembly.
• Lead hardware verification campaigns and test fixtures, including vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum testing.

Skills

Aerospace design

Finite element analysis

GD&T

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS/Nastran

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Senior Mechanical Engineer with our client located in Washington, DC.

Job Description: Seeking a highly motivated and skilled Senior Mechanical Engineer to support work at the Naval Research Laboratory. This position offers the opportunity to directly impact high-priority Navy missions. The Senior Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for the design and development of aerospace structures, mechanical components, and mechanisms. This role requires hands on experience with aerospace or spacecraft hardware and a strong understanding of modern aerospace design standards and practices. The engineer will lead detailed design activities, modeling, and documentation using industry standard CAD tools and drafting conventions.

Job Responsibilities

• Designs, analyzes, and directs the integration of structural components and mechanical assemblies for advanced space or air platforms
• Take ownership of mechanical subsystems from initial concept through environmental testing, ensuring all hardware meets engineering and environmental requirements
• Creates detailed 3D CAD models and fabrication drawings
• Performs preliminary structural and thermal finite element analysis (FEA)
• Collaborates with Integration and Test teams to oversee component assembly
• Author test plans, design specialized test fixtures, and actively lead hardware verification campaigns, including vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum and/or altitude testing.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of proven experience in aerospace mechanical design
• Direct experience with aerospace and/or spacecraft hardware design, including familiarity with current aerospace design practices and hardware standards.
• Mastery of CAD tools (preferably with Siemens NX)
• Proficiency with FEA tools (such as ANSYS or Nastran)
• Expert knowledge of ANSI Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrates strong initiative, self-motivation, and a proactive approach to problem-solving without requiring constant direction.
• Ability to lift and/or move 50 pounds.

Job Details

Job Type: Direct Hire

Salary Rate Range: $135K-$190K

Location: Washington, DC.

Required US Citizen and Active Secret clearance required with ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI.

About Protingent

Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.