Posted: 09/16/2026 Employment Type: Direct Hire Job Number: 32404 Job Location: Onsite Industry: AERO - Aerospace

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Senior Mechanical Engineer with our client located in Washington, DC.

Job Description:

Seeking a highly motivated and skilled Senior Mechanical Engineer to support work at the Naval Research Laboratory.
This position offers the opportunity to directly impact high-priority Navy missions.
The Senior Mechanical Engineer will be responsible for the design and development of aerospace structures, mechanical components, and mechanisms.
This role requires hands on experience with aerospace or spacecraft hardware and a strong understanding of modern aerospace design standards and practices. The engineer will lead detailed design activities, modeling, and documentation using industry standard CAD tools and drafting conventions.

Job Responsibilities:

Designs, analyzes, and directs the integration of structural components and mechanical assemblies for advanced space or air platforms
Take ownership of mechanical subsystems from initial concept through environmental testing, ensuring all hardware meets engineering and environmental requirements
Creates detailed 3D CAD models and fabrication drawings
Performs preliminary structural and thermal finite element analysis (FEA)
Collaborates with Integration and Test teams to oversee component assembly
Author test plans, design specialized test fixtures, and actively lead hardware verification campaigns, including vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum and/or altitude testing.

Job Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent work experience.
8+ years of proven experience in aerospace mechanical design
Direct experience with aerospace and/or spacecraft hardware design, including familiarity with current aerospace design practices and hardware standards.
Mastery of CAD tools (preferably with Siemens NX)
Proficiency with FEA tools (such as ANSYS or Nastran)
Expert knowledge of ANSI Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
Demonstrates strong initiative, self-motivation, and a proactive approach to problem-solving without requiring constant direction.
Ability to lift and/or move 50 pounds.

Job Details:

Job Type: Direct Hire
Salary Rate Range: $135K-$190K
Location: Washington, DC.
Required US Citizen and Active Secret clearance required with ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI.

About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.

Meet Your Recruiter

Jessica Dunkinson

I began working for Protingent in 2019. Our openings can really fluctuate with the needs of the market, and I especially enjoy working in niche and unique roles. My recruiting style is transparent and to the point and I strive to be as helpful as possible without wasting anyone’s time. I strive to help candidates achieve a fulfilling role, no matter their parameters, and my philosophy is “don’t make excuses, make improvements”. I love recruiting because every day is different; I get the opportunity to speak with a large variety of people while learning the tech industry. My favorite part of the job is being able to make a difference in an individual’s life and helping companies that are making a difference in the world.

I look forward to hearing from you. Jessica

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