Mechanical Design Engineer
The Opportunity
StaffRight Associates is recruiting for a Mechanical Design Engineer to join an aerospace and defense R&D organization building advanced subsea and maritime systems, from early prototypes through production hardware. This is a full-time, on-site role based in Groton, CT, with occasional field support at nearby company facilities and off-site test locations. Relocation assistance is available.
As the Mechanical Design Engineer, you will blend hands-on design, manufacturability, fabrication support, and requirements verification to make sure hardware satisfies rigorous U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) performance, quality, and operational standards. You will touch every phase of the engineering lifecycle, from concept and analysis through build, assembly, integration, test, and verification, working alongside mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers. Your decisions will shape hardware performance, producibility, reliability, and qualification as innovative maritime designs mature into dependable production systems that support critical national security missions. The team culture prizes engineering excellence, creativity, and disciplined problem solving.
What You'll Do
- Design, model, and refine mechanical parts and assemblies for subsea and maritime platforms, balancing system requirements, producibility, and ease of assembly.
- Produce detailed drawings, GD&T callouts, tolerance studies, interface control documents, and fabrication packages that conform to established engineering standards.
- Partner with machinists, welders, technicians, and outside suppliers to carry designs through fabrication, machining, inspection, and assembly.
- Deliver hands-on support during hardware builds, handling troubleshooting, fit checks, test setups, inspections, and disposition of fabrication and assembly nonconformances.
- Conduct preliminary and detailed analyses covering structural stress, thermal, modal, fatigue, durability, and buckling to confirm design performance and assess component deviations.
- Shape and execute mechanical and system-level test plans that verify requirements compliance, including environmental, structural, and applicable MIL-STD qualification testing.
- Govern configuration control, maintaining bills of materials, revision histories, as-built records, test logs, and compliance evidence.
- Contribute to cross-disciplinary design reviews, flagging technical risks and proposing solutions for new subsystems, processes, and novel hardware.
- Assist with hardware integration, system checkout, and testing in coordination with electrical, software, and systems engineers.
- Exercise sound judgment, initiative, and clear ownership of mechanical design decisions in a fast-moving R&D setting.
What You Bring
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 2-10 years of professional experience in Mechanical Design, Hardware Development, or Manufacturing Engineering.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD, ideally SolidWorks, covering part modeling, assembly design, and drawing creation.
- Proven ability to create, read, and release Engineering Drawings applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
- Working knowledge of Manufacturing Processes, fabrication methods, dimensional tolerancing, and DFMA principles.
- Hands-on experience with Prototype Hardware, mechanical assemblies, fabrication tools, and Test Equipment.
- Familiarity with SolidWorks PDM or a similar PDM system for documentation, Configuration Management, and revision control.
- Experience running Tolerance Stack-Up Analysis by hand or with tools such as CETOL or 3DCS.
- Experience building, maintaining, and managing BOMs (BOM Management).
- Strong Technical Communication and Technical Documentation skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across engineering disciplines.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
Preferred
- Background supporting Manufacturing Operations, Vendor Coordination, fabrication, or shop-floor engineering.
- Knowledge of MIL-STD Qualification Testing, including shock, vibration, EMI, and environmental testing.
- Structural, thermal, or durability analysis experience using FEA or analytical methods.
- Understanding of subsea and maritime hardware, including material selection, Corrosion Protection, sealing technologies, Pressure Housings, and propulsion components.
- Experience with hardware integration, system checkout, and troubleshooting across electrical, software, or control interfaces.
- Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering calculation and data analysis tools.
- Exposure to Metal Additive Manufacturing, Welding, Precision Machining, and specialized material processing.
- Familiarity with dimensional inspection and quality practices such as CMM, PC-DMIS, and First Article Inspection.
- Experience guiding prototype-to-production transitions, including design maturation, manufacturing readiness, and hardware qualification.
Compensation & Total Rewards
- Salary: $125,000 - $185,000
- Engagement: Full-time, direct hire; on-site in Groton, CT, with occasional field support at nearby facilities and off-site test locations
- Benefits: Top-tier benefits and a generous 401(k)
- Relocation: Relocation assistance provided
Joining StaffRight Associates
When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you're doing more than pursuing a job, you're aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.
