Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

About this role

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer Concurrent Technologies Corporation Johnstown, PA Minimum Clearance Required: None Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Secret Employee Background Check Required CTC Engineering and Manufacturing: Where Cutting-Edge Innovation Meets Mission-Critical Solutions The CTC Engineering Division specializes in transforming cutting-edge technologies into real-world solutions. We harness the power of 3D printing, advanced joining techniques like friction stir welding, and cutting-edge design tools to tackle complex challenges for a diverse set of clients. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job functions described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable Federal, state and/or local laws and regulations. The Principal Mechanical Design Engineer provides strategic leadership in the design, development, and implementation of advanced mechanical and aerospace systems for DoD and industrial applications. This role focuses on driving innovation, solving complex engineering challenges, and shaping organizational capabilities. Engineers at this level are responsible for high-level technical oversight, mentoring, and contributing to business growth through thought leadership and client engagement. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Design and Innovation Lead the conceptualization, design, and development of cutting-edge mechanical and aerospace systems, components, and processes for mission-critical applications such as ground vehicles, aircraft, armaments, and advanced materials. Oversee the creation of highly complex CAD models and manufacturing drawings using software such as Creo, SolidWorks, or AutoCAD, ensuring compliance with GD&T and DoD standards. Direct advanced engineering analyses, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA), computational modeling, and system optimization, to solve complex technical challenges. Identify and implement innovative technologies, methodologies, and processes to advance organizational capabilities and meet emerging client needs. Prototyping and Testing Leadership Provide high-level oversight for prototype manufacturing efforts, including strategic planning, documentation, and coordination with internal teams and external vendors. Develop and approve advanced testing protocols to validate designs, ensuring compliance with performance expectations, safety regulations, and project-specific requirements. Analyze test results, identify systemic issues, and implement strategic design modifications to optimize system performance and reliability. Technical Leadership and Oversight Serve as the primary technical authority for large-scale, multidisciplinary projects, providing strategic guidance and resolving complex engineering challenges. Collaborate with executive leadership, clients, and stakeholders to define project requirements, deliverables, and success metrics. Represent the organization as a technical expert in client engagements, industry conferences, and strategic discussions. Mentorship and Organizational Development Mentor and develop engineers across all levels, fostering technical excellence and professional growth. Lead technical reviews, establish best practices, and drive knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance organizational capabilities. Shape the strategic direction of the engineering division by contributing to long-term planning and innovation efforts. Business Development and Compliance Drive business growth through thought leadership, proposal development, and strategic client engagement. Ensure all designs, processes, and deliverables comply with DoD standards, safety regulations, and project-specific requirements. Identify opportunities for innovation, process improvement, and new business ventures to expand organizational impact. The duties of this position will involve product design and manufacturing process development, testing, evaluation, and implementation. Candidate must have a strong background in research and development, requirements development, mechanical and systems design, manufacturing processes and equipment development / specification, and experience with implementation of processes in an industrial production environment. The candidate is expected to be a significant contributor to mechanical design and development of research and development initiatives, and will serve as mentor for lower for level staff. Candidate must have a strong background in performance-based marketing / business growth and proposal development (technical task planning, scheduling, and cost estimating). Candidate must have experience and be proficient at maintaining task execution plans, preparing reports, presentations. Candidate may support a broad base of applications ranging from aircraft, vehicles, armaments, application of advanced materials, custom manufacturing fixtures and equipment, testing services, inspection equipment, system management tools, and other unique one-off solutions. Candidate will be required to work closely with clients and project teams, interact with vendors, subcontractors, and be willing to mentor lower-level staff. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Systems, or Materials Engineering. Master’s degree strongly desired. 10+ years of relevant experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering, including leadership and strategic oversight. Advanced proficiency in CAD software such as Creo, SolidWorks, or AutoCAD, with experience creating highly complex parametric models and assemblies. Working knowledge of Finite Element Analysis and Inspection Software such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, or Polyworks Expertise in engineering principles, including GD