Mechanical Engineer

Join a team focused on delivering innovative aerospace lighting solutions while working directly with customers, aircraft manufacturers, and industry partners. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to product innovation, certification, installation engineering, and continuous improvement initiatives that support growth and operational excellence.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Engineering team and support the development of innovative aircraft lighting solutions. This role is responsible for designing mechanical components used in lighting products, including sheet metal, machined, molded, vacuum-formed, and extruded parts.

In addition to product design, this position plays a key role in installation engineering by conducting aircraft surveys, defining installation requirements, creating engineering documentation, and supporting certification efforts. The successful candidate will work closely with customers, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and internal stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle.

This position requires up to 30% travel to support customer meetings, aircraft surveys, installations, testing, and technical support activities.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Engineering

• Lead engineering projects from concept through production launch, including design development, certification support, manufacturing release, and customer implementation.
• Develop mechanical designs and create 3D models, drawings, analysis reports, installation documentation, and technical records using SolidWorks.
• Translate customer requirements into practical, manufacturable product solutions.
• Support product certification and qualification activities by preparing technical documentation and coordinating engineering deliverables.
• Conduct aircraft site surveys to gather installation, interface, and dimensional data.
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to resolve technical challenges and support new business opportunities.

Technical Proposals & Customer Support

• Assist in preparing technical proposals, engineering estimates, installation packages, certification documentation, and work instructions.
• Review customer specifications, RFPs, and RFQs to assess technical requirements, engineering effort, risks, and certification needs.
• Provide technical support throughout project execution and post-installation activities.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, installations, and field support as required.

Design for Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Develop cost-effective, manufacturable designs that improve product quality and reduce complexity.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and suppliers to optimize product performance, cost, and scalability.
• Support supplier evaluations, alternate sourcing initiatives, and obsolescence mitigation efforts.
• Conduct root cause analysis on design, manufacturing, supplier, and field issues and implement corrective actions.
• Support prototype builds, first article inspections, and production release activities.
• Review and approve engineering drawings, technical documentation, and design releases.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong understanding of engineering principles, mechanical design, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal, written, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Understanding of engineering drawing standards and documentation practices.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Preferred

• 2+ years of mechanical product design experience.
• 2+ years of experience using SolidWorks 3D CAD software.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication.
• Experience designing plastic molded components.
• Technical writing experience, including proposals, testing reports, certification documentation, installation instructions, and process documentation.
• Experience with aerospace certification standards such as DO-160, ABD-0100, MIL-STD-461, or equivalent.
• Field engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing engineering projects from concept through production.
• Experience utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to improve engineering or business processes.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to identify, communicate, and mitigate technical and project risks.
• Ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Must be eligible to obtain any required U.S. Government authorizations in accordance with ITAR and EAR regulations.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office, manufacturing, and industrial environments.
• Frequent use of computers and standard office equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs, and perform repetitive hand movements.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel by automobile and commercial aircraft as required (10–30% travel).