Principal Mechanical Engineer
About The Position
Leidos Defense Systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer for its Hypersonics line of business, supporting the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB) program. The role leads mechanical structures engineering activities and technical execution across the Integrated Product Team (IPT), with responsibility for engineering deliverables, technical issues, plans, schedules, and risks. The engineer ensures complete and accurate definition of mechanical assembly components, subsystems, and ground support equipment in the Technical Data Package (TDP). The position serves as a primary technical interface with the design agent, industry partners, suppliers, and the customer. It supports design changes for manufacturability and production efficiency, works with manufacturing and operations teams to resolve production issues, and oversees technical dispositions for nonconforming hardware within established MRB authority. The role also leads technical reviews and Failure Review Board activities, contributes to risk and opportunity management, provides customer updates, and mentors less experienced engineers.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution and 12 or more years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or IPTs responsible for complex mechanical subsystem design, development, integration, or production.
- Experience planning and coordinating engineering activities, managing technical deliverables, and addressing program risks and schedules.
- Proficiency with CAD tools such as Creo, CATIA, AutoCAD, or SolidWorks.
- Experience working within Product Lifecycle Management environments.
- Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack-up analysis.
- Understanding of engineering drawings, specifications, and configuration management processes.
- Experience leading technical investigations and resolving complex engineering issues in development or production environments.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical reviews and make sound engineering recommendations.
- Understanding of cost, schedule, and technical risk impacts associated with engineering decisions.
- Experience interacting directly with customers and external engineering organizations to coordinate activities and resolve technical issues.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and mentor other engineers.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Nice To Haves
- Active security clearance.
- Experience supporting DoD programs related to missile systems, reentry vehicles, or hypersonic technologies.
- Prior technical leadership in the design, development, qualification, or integration of missile system mechanical subsystems.
- Experience coordinating technical activities with external design agents, suppliers, and industry partners.
- Experience supporting rapid development, prototyping, or fast-paced engineering programs.
- Familiarity with AS9100 aerospace quality management systems.
- Knowledge of MIL-STD-31000 Technical Data Package development, engineering release processes, and configuration control.
- Experience creating and reviewing engineering drawings and complex CAD assemblies using PTC Creo and managing engineering data within Windchill.
- Experience supporting Material Review Board, Failure Review Board, and Root Cause and Corrective Action processes.
Responsibilities
- Lead engineering activities for the CHGB Mechanical Structures Integrated Product Team, including technical execution, engineering deliverables, and issue resolution.
- Develop and maintain engineering plans and schedules, manage technical risks, and coordinate deliverables to support program objectives.
- Ensure complete and accurate definition of mechanical assembly components, subsystems, and ground support equipment within the Technical Data Package.
- Lead technical peer reviews and drive resolution of complex engineering issues.
- Serve as a primary technical interface with the design agent and Industry IPT, coordinating technical activities and engineering decisions.
- Work with the design agent to incorporate design changes that improve manufacturability, quality, and production efficiency.
- Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, operations, and liaison engineering to resolve production bottlenecks, improve processes, and support hardware delivery.
- Coordinate with supplier program managers to support timely hardware delivery, resolve technical issues, and improve supplier producibility.
- Provide technical oversight of nonconforming hardware dispositions within established MRB authority and support Root Cause and Corrective Action investigations.
- Lead the Failure Review Board process to resolve technical issues.
- Identify, assess, and communicate program risks and improvement opportunities to the Risk and Opportunity Board.
- Serve as a senior technical representative to the customer, providing program status updates and communicating engineering and manufacturing activities.
- Mentor less experienced engineers and provide technical guidance across the IPT.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
