Mechanical Engineering Team Lead

Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Team Lead

Reports To: Director of Engineering

Grade: 13

Summary

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Mechanical Engineering Team Lead to guide our engineering team and participate in the design, development, and testing of advanced mechanical components and systems. This leadership role combines technical expertise with team management, requiring strong skills in machine design, product development, testing, and mentoring. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including manufacturing, quality, and R&D—to ensure designs meet performance, cost, and manufacturing objectives while driving innovation and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Mentorship
• Lead and manage a team of mechanical engineers and interns, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment, encouraging open communication and knowledge sharing.
• Project Participation
• Translate concepts and requirements from the Systems team into a working module or machine.
• Contribute to complex analytical work in machine design, dynamics, fluid mechanics, and magnetics by collaborating with cross-functional teams and providing technical input.
• Participate in detailed mechanical design reviews in CAD; assist in ensuring prototypes meet functional, performance, and cost requirements through hands-on evaluation and feedback.
• Support resource planning and actively engage in monitoring project milestones, sharing progress updates and identifying potential risks with senior leadership.
• Technical Excellence
• Drive precision engineering initiatives including, precision motion systems, flexure design, kinematic repeatability, opto-mechanics, and thermal management.
• Create and review Technical Product Documentation (TPD), demonstrating compliance to the requirements at module and system level.
• Conduct simulations (static and dynamic), vibration, stress analysis, and physical testing to verify design performance and compliance with requirements.
• Ensure adherence to engineering best practices, regulatory requirements, and quality standards.
• Optical manufacturing fundamentals (Diamond generating, Polishing, deterministic finishing, and system integration)
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Coordinate efforts with operations, manufacturing, quality, controls, software, and project management teams to achieve program objectives.
• Support optical manufacturing needs, such as tooling, fixturing, and test-set design
• Collaborate with external suppliers and vendors to ensure materials and components meet specifications.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Cultivate a spirit of innovation within the team.
• Support improvements to existing products based on performance data and customer feedback.
• Stay current with industry trends, manufacturing technologies, and best practices; proactively enhance design processes and tools.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience
• Minimum B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of relevant experience (MS or PhD preferred).
• Proven experience in project leadership and mentoring junior engineers.
• Expertise in precision engineering, motion systems, and advanced mechanical design.
• Technical Skills
• Proficiency in PTC Creo, Solidworks, or equivalent 3D CAD software and PDM, ERP system and BOM management.
• Design of experiments data analytics software (Minitab, Jump, Quantum XL)
• Advanced knowledge of GD&T, tolerance analysis, stress analysis, FEA, and thermal management (Ansys simulation tools, and plug-ins).
• Familiarity with metrology equipment and data acquisition systems.
• Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Soft Skills
• Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills for global audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive results in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Information

• Travel:Occasional, infrequent travel required.
• Salary Range: $110,000–$145,000 (based on education, experience, and internal equity).

QED Technologies is an equal opportunity employer