Spaceflight Mechanical Engineering Manager

Trident Systems; Fairfax (VA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Trident Systems in Fairfax, VA seeks a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team delivering spaceflight hardware. You will provide technical direction, manage resources, and ensure designs meet aerospace standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive on-time, within-budget execution.

The role emphasizes leadership, program management, and a strong background in mechanical design, analysis, and qualification testing for space applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 12+ years of progressive engineering experience, including at least 1+ years in technical leadership or engineering management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through the complete product development lifecycle.
• Experience developing, qualifying, and transitioning to production aerospace and/or spaceflight hardware.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design, structural and thermal analysis, manufacturing, and environmental qualification testing.
• Experience with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and engineering analysis tools such as ANSYS Workbench or equivalent.
• Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) systems and configuration management processes.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, budgets, and schedules.
• Ability to make sound technical and business decisions with limited direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of mechanical engineers responsible for the design, analysis, testing, and qualification of spacecraft electronics assemblies and related hardware.
• Provide technical direction and engineering oversight for mechanical system design, ensuring adherence to engineering best practices, company standards, and customer requirements.
• Plan, prioritize, and allocate engineering resources across multiple programs to meet business objectives, schedules, and budgets.
• Partner with Program Management to develop project plans, identify technical risks, monitor progress, and ensure successful execution of engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate closely with electrical, software, firmware, systems, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure successful product integration and production readiness.
• Lead and participate in design reviews, technical reviews, and failure investigations while ensuring engineering decisions are technically sound and well documented.
• Ensure mechanical designs comply with applicable aerospace standards, customer specifications, configuration management processes, and company quality requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to engineering processes, design methodologies, tools, and documentation to improve efficiency and product quality.
• Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop engineering talent through regular performance feedback, career development planning, and technical mentoring.
• Establish performance expectations, conduct evaluations, recognize achievements, and address performance issues in a timely manner.
• Provide leadership in resolving complex technical challenges and support root cause investigations for product and manufacturing issues.
• Support customer meetings, proposal efforts, technical interchange meetings, and design reviews as the mechanical engineering representative.
• Support departmental budgeting, capital planning, staffing forecasts, and strategic planning initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Multidisciplinary teams

Mechanical design

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

Manufacturing

Environmental qualification testing

Communication

Budgeting

Scheduling

Decision making

Engineering leadership

Technical problem solving

Education

ABET-accredited Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering program

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS Workbench

PDM systems

Job description

Trident Systems in Fairfax, VA seeks a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead a team delivering spaceflight hardware. You will provide technical direction, manage resources, and ensure designs meet aerospace standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive on-time, within-budget execution.

The role emphasizes leadership, program management, and a strong background in mechanical design, analysis, and qualification testing for space applications.