Principal Mechanical Engineer; Onsite

Principal Mechanical Engineer (Onsite)

Location: A01:
Rockford - Aerospace 4747 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, IL, 61125 USA

Date Posted:

Country: United States of America

Position Role Type: Onsite

Citizenship Requirement: U.S. citizenship required

Security Clearance: None/Not Required

The Principal Mechanical Engineer plays a critical leadership role at the intersection of design excellence and disciplined program execution. Serving as a Project Engineer for complex mechanical scope, this position owns technical direction from early concept through development, verification, and transition to production. You’ll be responsible for setting design intent, driving architecture and trade decisions, and ensuring solutions are robust, producible, and aligned with program objectives—all while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturing readiness in a highly regulated aerospace environment.

This is a senior, principal-level individual contributor role designed for an engineer who thrives in ambiguity and leads through technical authority and influence. While hands‑on technical depth remains essential, success in this role is defined by ownership of outcomes—integrating analysis, test strategy, risk reduction, and EVMS-based execution into a cohesive, executable plan. You’ll collaborate closely with Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain partners, provide clear technical insight to program leadership, and guide supporting engineers to deliver disciplined, high‑impact results across the full program lifecycle.

• Serve as Project Engineer for assigned mechanical scope from concept through production transition.
• Own mechanical technical direction, execution approach, and design intent across development programs.
• Lead design and development activities including trade studies, architecture decisions, and design reviews.
• Integrate manufacturing readiness, producibility, and verification considerations into design decisions.
• Drive design maturity and risk reduction through analysis, test strategy definition, and validation planning.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional functions (Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Supply Chain) to ensure aligned execution.
• Support EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and identification of risks and variances within assigned mechanical scope.
• Provide clear technical status, inputs, and assessments to support program reporting and reviews.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to supporting engineers; integrate inputs into a cohesive solution.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to program and functional leadership.

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design and development efforts through production readiness.
• Proven ability to operate as a Project Engineer or technical owner for complex mechanical scope.
• Strong background in mechanical design principles, requirements interpretation, and design decision‑making.
• Working knowledge of verification and validation planning, including integration of test strategy into design.
• Experience supporting EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and risk identification.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience in development programs transitioning to low‑rate or full‑rate production.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.
• Background in manufacturing readiness, producibility, or production support.
• Working knowledge of dynamics, loads, vibration, or structural behavior sufficient to inform design and verification…