Mechanical Design Engineer

Pinnacle Government Solutions is a minority-owned small business that provides Software, AI/ML, and Cloud Engineering Solutions for our Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and Federal Civilian agencies. We bring SME-level expertise and over five decades of combined industry knowledge and Talent Acquisition experience. We believe in getting it right for our customers and our country.We are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer to design, build, test, and ship mechanical systems that survive real-world use. From early prototypes to scaled production, you own your parts end-to-end. If it breaks, you fix it. If it doesn't exist yet, you design it. If it works on paper but fails in the field, it's not done. Extreme ownership is the baseline. You may be asked to work late hours and weekends if needed to accomplish the mission.What You OwnThe mechanical integrity, performance, and manufacturability of your designsComponents, mechanisms, and structures from concept → productionIteration speed without sacrificing reliability or safetyGetting parts built, assembled, tested, and validated-no handoffsIf it touches metal, motion, load paths or force, you're accountableWhat You Actually DoComponent & System DesignDesign components with full lifecycle responsibility: calculations, tolerances, GD&T, drawings, and validationDesign in context-your parts must work with everyone else's, under real loadsMechanismsDesign and integrate linkages, gears, motors, actuators, and assemblies that work under stressPrototyping & FabricationBuild fast using in-house tools or external vendorsOwn the loop from CAD → part → install → revisionTesting & ValidationTest like it's going to the field-because it isMeasure performance, identify failure modes, and fix themPaper success doesn't count, field performance doesDFM & ScaleDesign for manufacturability from day oneWork directly with manufacturing and machinists to ensure precision, repeatability, and scaleProcurement & Build SupportSource materials, components, and vendors to keep builds movingSolve supply problems without waiting for permissionOwnership & AdaptabilityPriorities shift. Problems emerge. You step in.No \"that's not my job.\" Only \"what needs to be done.\"Documentation & ImprovementDocument designs, tests, processes, and lessons learned so hardware can be built againRaise the bar on safety, reliability, and speed every cycleRequired Skills and ExperienceProven, hands-on mechanical design experienceStrong CAD and GD&T capabilityAbility to work independently in high-stakes, fast-moving environmentsBias for action, high accountability, and resilience under pressurePreferred Skills and ExperienceUAVs, aerospace, or high-performance mechanismsDesigning hardware that survives testing not just reviews itAdditive manufacturing and 3D printer operation/maintenanceDesigning for production-not just prototypesStartup or small-team environments where impact is immediateOnshape experience a plus; willingness to transition requiredITAR REQUIREMENT: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.