Mechanical Engineer - Team Leader

Mechanical Engineering Team Leader (Location : Carson / Torrance, CA area) The Client is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Team Leader to manage a small team of mechanical engineers developing ruggedized military and aerospace electronics. This role combines hands-on engineering expertise with leadership and mentoring responsibilities. You will lead the design, analysis, and testing of complex mechanical systems while managing in-house staff and contract support to deliver high-quality, production-ready hardware that meets stringent DoD requirements. You will be a key member of a multi-disciplinary engineering team working closely with program managers, technical leads, and directors to execute high-impact development programs. Ideally, this position will consist of 80%-85% hands-on engineering, and 15%-20% of Team Leadership. Responsibilities : Lead mechanical engineering for new product development activities to align with customer requirements and corporate goals. Perform and oversee mechanical design, analysis, and testing of ruggedized military ground and airborne electronics. Drive compliance to environmental and EMI / EMC requirements such as MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160. Coordinate and participate in internal design reviews, providing guidance on design reuse, DFM, DFT, and product transition. Guide the development and review of mechanical deliverables including 3D CAD models, component / assembly drawings, ICDs, BOMs, test plans, and reports. Serve as subject matter expert for environmental validation testing and structural / thermal analysis. Mentor mechanical engineers in advanced design practices and qualification testing to expand team capabilities. Coordinate work assignments with tech leads and program managers, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and budget. Support company-wide engineering initiatives and contribute to standardization and continuous improvement efforts. Communicate regularly with stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment on technical progress, risks, and priorities. Requirements : Technical Skills : B.S. or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. 8+ years of mechanical design experience with 2+ years in a leadership or mentoring capacity. Advanced proficiency in solid modeling using SolidWorks (preferred) or other CAD tools such as Pro-E or CATIA. Strong experience with FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS) for structural and thermal simulation. Demonstrated expertise in DFM, GD&T, and producing manufacturing drawings for production environments. Proven experience in MIL-standard environmental and EMC / EMI qualification testing (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, DO-160). Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes including machining, injection molding, rapid prototyping, and sheet metal fabrication. Leadership & Communication Skills : Proven ability to lead, mentor, and grow an engineering team in a high-performance environment. Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary projects with program managers and technical leads. Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to clearly convey technical information and guide team discussions. Skilled in developing and reviewing project documentation including ICDs, test plans (ATP / QTP), and milestone review presentations (SRR, PDR, CDR). Effective planner with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Benefits Client offers a wide range of benefits, including (but not limited to) : Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance plans, vacation time and PTO, etc. Unless otherwise stated in the requirements section of an individual job listing, our positions require U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Residency, or other status as a U.S. Person as defined by 8 USC 1324b(a)(3). Client company is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, or religion or other legally protected status.