IFPC Principal Mechanical Engineer

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

Leidos Defense Systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to support the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC Inc 2) Program. The role contributes to development of the Army’s mobile, ground-based air defense system, using Creo CAD and Windchill PLM to create mechanical designs and transition them into production hardware. The engineer may also support hardware integration, installation, and testing. The position is part of a high-performing engineering team working in a fast-paced environment on technically challenging work. The engineer supports the IFPC Hardware Integrated Product Team (IPT), providing technical execution, engineering deliverables, and issue resolution. The role includes coordinating engineering plans, schedules, risks, and technical interfaces; ensuring the definition of mechanical assemblies, subsystems, and ground support equipment in the Technical Data Package; and leading technical reviews and investigations. The engineer also collaborates with design agents, suppliers, manufacturing engineering, operations, and customers to resolve issues, improve producibility, support hardware delivery, and communicate program status. Additional responsibilities include providing technical oversight of nonconforming hardware dispositions, leading Failure Review Board activities, reporting risks and improvement opportunities, and mentoring other engineers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution and 12 or more years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree and 10 years of 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.
U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Active security clearance.
Experience supporting DoD programs related to missile systems, reentry vehicles, or hypersonic technologies.
Prior technical leadership experience 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

Contribute to engineering activities for the IFPC Hardware 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 activities and aligning engineering decisions and issue resolution.
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 status updates and communicating engineering and manufacturing activities.
Mentor less experienced engineers and provide technical guidance across the IPT.