Sr Mechanical Engineer

Leidos Defense Systems is seeking a highly motivated Sr Mechanical Engineer to join its team. The role involves driving the implementation of Value Driven Design and advanced Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) workflows across complex, high-priority DoD portfolios.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Architect, lead, and deliver state-of-the-art avionics, weapon interfaces, and custom/COTS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for missile systems, and fieldable launch platforms.
• Design for flight structures and mass optimization studies.
• Design for manufacturability and assembly optimization.
• Design for electronics packaging.
• Bill of Material development and component specification composition.
• Contribute to all phases of a development cycle: planning, design and development, implementation, test, and delivery.
• Direct multi-disciplinary Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) for structures.
• Act as the primary internal technical authority, hosting weekly technical interchange meetings with external subcontractors to maintain design consistency.
• Partner with systems engineering teams to translate military standards into rigorous hardware requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, or 8+ years with a master's degree in mechanical engineering for complex aerospace, missile, or defense systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning end-to-end systems engineering (requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification, and validation) on large or complex projects.
• Experience with missile, high-speed flight, or advanced weapon systems (e.g., hypersonics, ballistic missiles, interceptors, or similar).
• Experience with requirements and configuration management tools (e.g., DOORS or equivalent); familiarity with MBSE concepts and tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and resolve complex technical issues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing leadership and customers.
• Active DoD Top Secret or TS/SCI preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Candidate must be a resident of or be willing to relocate to the Albuquerque, NM or Huntsville, AL area.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Direct experience on hypersonic boost-glide, air-breathing hypersonic, or other high-Mach flight test or weapon programs.
• Experience with responsibility for technical scope, cost, and schedule on government contracts.
• Direct experience with ND systems and components.
• Experience designing and executing experiments for strategic environments.
• Experience in mechanical engineering within the NNSA nuclear complex.
• Proficiency with CAD software for complicated mechanical designs – solidworks, creo, etc.
• Experience in design and analysis with structural components and mounts.
• Finite Element Analysis and simulation experience.
• Familiarity developing prototypes, and their testing and validation.
• Experience with testing and analysis of thermal, shock, and vibration.
• Experience integrating subsystems into next-level assembly systems.
• Experience with weapon systems and weapon system teams.
• Experience with material selection for systems in strategic environments.
• Experience with blast tubes, sled tracks, drop tests, and vibrafuge testing.
• Experience with uncertainty quantification and approaches.