Senior Mechanical Engineer

SAIC•Lakehurst, NJ

10h•Onsite

About The Position

SAIC is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to support Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE), specifically the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). These systems enable aircraft launch and recovery operations aboard Ford-class aircraft carriers and support national security priorities. The engineer will contribute to design, development, analysis, testing, troubleshooting, and ongoing support of high-performance mechanical systems, including work at test sites, manufacturing facilities, and active naval vessels. The position requires local presence in the Lakehurst, New Jersey area and onsite work. Travel of up to 20–30%, including international travel and travel aboard ships, is required. The successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance; an active clearance is preferred. Emergency shipboard support may occur outside normal working hours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field and at least five years of experience; alternatively, a master’s degree and at least three years of experience, or a Ph.D. and zero years of related experience.
Proficiency with CAD software such as ProE/CREO or AutoCAD.
Expertise in developing and reviewing engineering drawings and schematics, including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
Strong understanding and application of materials science, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and fatigue/fracture mechanics.
Hands-on experience troubleshooting and testing mechanical systems, including analyzing and resolving system issues.
Comfort working aboard naval vessels and at test sites or manufacturing facilities.
Strong problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, including internationally and aboard ships.
U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.
Must be local to the Lakehurst, New Jersey area and willing to work onsite.

Nice To Haves

Active DoD Secret clearance.
Previous experience with EMALS, AAG, or similar electromagnetic launch or recovery systems.
Familiarity with military specifications and standards, such as MIL-STD.
Experience conducting engineering investigations and resolving manufacturing variances.
Knowledge of non-destructive inspection (NDI) methods.
Familiarity with the Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) process.
Experience working aboard active naval vessels.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with engineering teams to design, develop, analyze, and optimize mechanical systems and components for AAG and EMALS.
Develop and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications using CAD software such as CREO Parametric or AutoCAD.
Perform mechanical calculations, including stress, thermal/fluid, and bolted-joint analyses.
Troubleshoot mechanical systems, including hydraulic systems, generators, and large motors; assess repair suitability and provide recommendations.
Conduct engineering investigations, failure analyses, and root-cause assessments, and present solutions to stakeholders.
Lead design projects of varying scale, ensuring system interfaces are addressed and quality standards are met.
Execute testing, validation, and troubleshooting at test locations, manufacturing facilities, and naval vessels.
Develop and review maintenance procedures and recommend improvements to system performance and operational safety.
Respond to emergency calls and provide hands-on shipboard support to troubleshoot, repair, and test systems, potentially outside normal working hours.
Support manufacturing activities, including engineering change reviews such as REIs, waivers, and variances, and verify compliance with system requirements.
Prepare technical documentation and reports for program leadership and other stakeholders.