Role Overview
The Principal Engineer, Mechanical Design will sit within our Advanced Technical Programs (ATP) organization, where teams work at the leading edge of technology development to solve complex problems and rapidly move from concept to hardware. This role will support early-stage technology development across conceptual design, trade studies, hardware design, build, test, and technical maturation, with a focus on advanced propulsion and turbomachinery-related efforts.
The ideal candidate is highly competent in mechanical design, confident building and assembling hardware, and comfortable working in fast-paced, loosely defined environments. They should be able to create robust CAD designs, support rapid development and test activities, and move work forward with strong judgment and minimal oversight. This role is best suited for someone who is hands-on, execution-oriented, and able to balance technical rigor with speed.
What You'll Do...
- Develop hardware concepts, component designs, and assembly-level solutions for advanced propulsion programs and related technology efforts
- Explore conceptual design space for engines, subsystems, and technical maturation strategies, balancing performance, feasibility, manufacturability, and test objectives
- Create and refine 3D models, 2D definitions, cross sections, and related engineering documentation to support design, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, and test activities
- Support rapid development cycles by moving designs from concept into hardware for prototype, component, and full-assembly evaluation
- Build, evaluate, and test hardware to assess design performance, technical risk, and next-step development opportunities
- Partner across engineering disciplines including design, analysis, performance, manufacturing, controls, systems, and test to solve complex technical problems
- Apply sound engineering fundamentals to turbomachinery and propulsion development, including thermodynamics-based reasoning and first-principles problem solving
- Identify root issues, not just surface-level symptoms, and propose practical, technically grounded solutions
- Contribute to the evaluation and development of novel propulsion technologies and related innovation efforts that expand Beehive’s technical capabilities
- Ensure technical data, models, drawings, and related outputs are documented clearly and managed in accordance with engineering best practices and configuration management expectations
- Capture and communicate lessons learned, best practices, and technical guidance in a way that is accessible and useful to broader engineering and business teams
- Provide clear, timely communication on technical progress, key risks, issues, and recommendations.
You have...
- 12+ years of experience contributing in conceptual design environments where requirements may evolve and rapid iteration is expected
- Experience designing, building, and testing hardware in a development setting
- Experience in propulsion systems, turbomachinery, or closely related aerospace hardware development
- Strong understanding of thermodynamics and engineering fundamentals
- Proficiency in CAD, especially NX
- Ability to work effectively in loosely defined environments and make progress without excessive structure or direction
- Strong problem-solving capability, including the ability to distinguish the real problem from the initially stated problem
- Willingness to speak up with ideas, technical perspectives, and objections when needed to improve the work
- Ability to work across a broad range of problems rather than remaining narrowly focused on a single task area
- Strong communication skills and the ability to document technical work clearly and effectively
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, and follow-through in fast-paced, cross-functional engineering environments
- The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issues security clearance is required. U.S. Citizenship is required, as only U.S. Citizens are eligible for a security clearance
Nice to have...