Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Lead
Job Description
The Mechanical Engineering Lead oversees all mechanical engineering activities from initial development through full production, ensuring that designs meet customer requirements, quality expectations, and internal standards. This role provides hands-on technical leadership, supports proposal and manufacturing efforts, and mentors engineering staff while driving continuous improvement across processes and projects.
Responsibilities
Lead and manage mechanical engineering projects from concept through production, ensuring on-time delivery and adherence to scope and quality standards.
Plan, prioritize, and balance the mechanical engineering team's workload to meet program and organizational objectives.
Support staffing activities by helping to identify resource needs and participating in the selection and development of engineering team members.
Contribute to performance management by providing technical guidance, coaching, and feedback to engineering staff.
Drive process improvement initiatives within the mechanical engineering function to enhance efficiency, quality, and design robustness.
Ensure mechanical designs comply with applicable design, quality, safety, and configuration management standards, including relevant ASME and military standards.
Collaborate closely with program management to define technical scope, estimate effort, and support project planning and execution.
Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and to resolve production issues related to mechanical components and assemblies.
Work directly with customers to understand requirements, address technical questions, and support design reviews and approvals.
Support Product Data Management (PDM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) activities, including configuration control, documentation, and change management.
Lead or support engineering change control processes, ensuring proper review, approval, and implementation of design changes.
Contribute to proposal development by providing technical input, estimates, and risk assessments for new business opportunities.
Support production activities by troubleshooting mechanical issues, implementing design improvements, and coordinating with cross-functional teams.
Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and relevant ASME/MIL standards to ensure clear, manufacturable, and inspectable designs.
Utilize 3D modeling, drafting, and analysis tools to develop, review, and validate mechanical designs, including new product development and machine design.
Incorporate knowledge of fabrication and assembly methods-such as metal machining, sheet metal fabrication, and welding-into design decisions.
Leverage finite element analysis (FEA) and other analytical methods to support structural integrity and performance evaluations.
Support the integration of structural and hydraulic systems, particularly in fixed-wing and rotary-wing airframe applications when applicable.
Travel as needed to customer sites, manufacturing facilities, or test locations to support design, integration, and production activities.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field preferred.
Approximately 6+ years of mechanical engineering design experience.
Approximately 3+ years of management or technical leadership experience preferred.
Proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modeling, design, and drafting.
Proficiency in AutoCAD for 2D drawings and documentation.
Strong knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
Familiarity with ASME and relevant military (MIL) standards.
Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
Experience performing or interpreting Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Solid experience in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, and product design.
Hands-on experience with 3D modeling, drafting, CAD, and design analysis.
Knowledge of various fabrication and assembly methods, including metal machining, sheet metal fabrication, and welding.
Ability to support new product development from concept through production.
Eligibility to obtain a security clearance.
Ability to travel as required.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering is strongly preferred.
Manufacturing experience in machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and assembly is preferred.
Experience with fixed-wing and/or rotary-wing airframe structural and hydraulic systems is a plus.
Prior military aviation maintenance experience is a plus.
Working knowledge of 3D scanning equipment is a plus.
Working knowledge of 3D printing and additive manufacturing processes is a plus.
Experience with machine design and complex mechanical systems is beneficial.
Experience in new product development and engineering for manufacturability is advantageous.
Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with cross-functional teams and customers.
Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop less-experienced engineers.
Work Environment
This role operates in a professional engineering and manufacturing environment that supports the full product lifecycle, from design through production. You will work extensively with modern CAD tools such as SolidWorks and AutoCAD, as well as PDM/PLM systems and analysis tools like FEA software. The position involves regular collaboration with program management, manufacturing, and production teams, and may include visits to shop floors where machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, and assembly activities take place. The environment encourages innovation in areas such as 3D scanning, 3D printing, and new product development. The organization offers an employee stock ownership structure (ESOP), fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and long-term commitment. Work hours generally follow standard business schedules, with some flexibility needed to support project deadlines, design reviews, and occasional travel to customer or manufacturing sites. Attire is typically professional casual in office settings, with appropriate safety gear required when visiting manufacturing or production areas
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Jacksonville, FL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $115000.00/yr.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vets.Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vets.Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vets.Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vets.Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vets
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Jacksonville,FL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 6, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
