Senior Advanced Mechanical Engineer

Basic Qualifications

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or Master's degree plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience.

Clearance Requirements:Department of Defense Secret security clearance obtainable within reasonable time based on requirements. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities for this Position

General Dynamics Mission Systems is seeking an Advanced Mechanical Engineer to help develop the airborne technologies that give military aircraft a decisive operational advantage. Our Airborne Systems portfolio includes mission computing, secure communications, and autonomous aircraft capabilities that support air superiority, situational awareness, and critical mission execution.

In this role, you will apply advanced mechanical engineering expertise to design, develop, and deliver high-performance solutions for demanding airborne environments. You will work with cross-functional teams and customers to turn complex technical requirements into reliable, manufacturable products that support some of the nation’s most important defense and intelligence missions.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design and development of mechanical, thermal, thermodynamic, and heat-transfer solutions for high-performance airborne electronic mission systems.
• Design rugged, high-performance mechanical structures and assemblies that protect and enable mission-critical airborne technologies.
• Create 3D mechanical models, detailed drawings, and associated design documentation using Creo and Windchill.
• Lead strategic engineering tasks and small to mid-sized projects, balancing technical performance, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and program objectives.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor engineering work from concept through delivery, including schedules, budgets, technical risks, and mitigation plans.
• Collaborate with electrical, systems, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program teams to deliver integrated airborne solutions.
• Apply technical, government, and industry standards, along with manufacturing and fabrication methods, throughout the product lifecycle.
• Apply artificial intelligence responsibly to improve engineering processes, analyze information, and support design efficiency.
• Provide technical recommendations to engineering and project leadership in support of program strategy and customer needs.
• Contribute to proposal development, project plans, program strategies, and teaming approaches.
• Mentor junior engineers in mechanical engineering principles, design practices, and project execution.
• Communicate technical analyses, designs, and recommendations through clear technical documents, proposals, and presentations.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Career Development

• This role provides opportunities to build depth in mechanical design engineering or develop expertise in thermal and structural analysis. A successful candidate does not need to be a dedicated analyst; candidates with a strong design-engineering foundation and interest in expanding their analysis capabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Travel and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance may be required.

What You Bring

• Strong mechanical engineering experience with the ability to independently lead complex technical assignments.
• Proficiency with solid modeling CAD and product lifecycle management tools, particularly Creo and Windchill, to create, manage, and release mechanical models and detailed drawings.
• Knowledge of manufacturing and fabrication methods, including materials, processes, tolerancing, and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Experience leading engineering projects or technical teams through product development and delivery.
• Sound engineering judgment and the ability to evaluate diverse technical factors to develop effective solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing technical documents and proposals.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across technical and program disciplines.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies and execute with limited direction.

What Sets You Apart

• Experience designing products for demanding airborne, aerospace, defense, or high-reliability environments.
• Experience performing thermal or structural analysis using ANSYS Icepak or ANSYS Workbench, preferred, to inform mechanical design decisions.
• Strong understanding of how mechanical design choices affect mission performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
• A creative, systems-minded approach to solving complex engineering problems.
• A demonstrated commitment to mentoring others and advancing engineering excellence.

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Salary Note

This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Combined Salary Range

USD $142,696.00 - USD $154,401.00 /Yr.

Company Overview

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans