Principal Mechanical Engineer

Boston Engineering is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our team in Waltham, MA!

Boston Engineering is where innovative ideas become real-world technologies. Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, we've spent more than 30 years partnering with commercial and government clients to solve complex engineering challenges and bring breakthrough products to market. From advanced robotics and autonomous systems to medical devices, digital solutions, defense technologies, and industrial automation, our teams work on meaningful projects that push the boundaries of what's possible. 

Why Join Boston Engineering?

• Build products with real-world purpose. Contribute to technologies that address challenging commercial and government needs.
• Own consequential technical decisions. Shape mechanical concepts and system architecture, guide design tradeoffs, and help clients choose a path forward.
• Stay close to the work. Combine technical leadership with design, prototyping, analysis, and testing.
• Keep expanding your expertise. Work across industries alongside mechanical, electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing engineers.
• Multiply your impact. Mentor engineers, develop future technical leaders, and strengthen engineering practices across the organization.

See how Boston Engineering helps clients turn complex ideas into real-world products and technologies

▶ Watch: Boston Engineering – Product Development Services                                                                        

We are looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer who combines hands-on design expertise with the ability to set technical direction, lead multidisciplinary teams, and build trusted client relationships.

You will guide complex product development efforts from early concepts through manufacturing, with particular emphasis on motion systems, robotics, precision electromechanical systems, and products for demanding environments. You will help teams navigate ambiguity, make critical design decisions, and balance performance, cost, reliability, and schedule.

This role offers the opportunity to remain deeply involved in engineering while expanding your influence through technical leadership, mentoring, and client engagement.

What You Will Do

Lead technical direction and product development

• Serve as the mechanical technical lead for complex, multidisciplinary product development projects, owning major technical areas and their results.
• Translate client needs into product requirements, engineering specifications, mechanical architectures, and development plans.
• Guide system-level architecture and interfaces in partnership with electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing engineers.
• Resolve novel engineering challenges, anticipate technical risks, and lead teams through ambiguous requirements and changing priorities.
• Make and communicate critical design tradeoffs that balance performance, manufacturability, cost, reliability, and schedule.

Design, build, and validate

• Develop innovative mechanical designs from concept through production using Creo and/or SolidWorks.
• Design, build, and test proof-of-concept models, breadboards, prototypes, and production-ready systems.
• Apply expertise in motion systems, robotics, and precision electromechanical design, including integration with motion controls.
• Lead engineering analyses, design reviews, and verification activities to establish that designs meet requirements.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), design for cost, and reliability principles throughout development.

Lead teams and strengthen engineering capability

• Lead cross-functional engineering teams through major technical portions of projects, aligning disciplines and resolving technical disagreements.
• Partner with project managers to define scope, estimate effort, plan technical work, and manage risks and dependencies.
• Mentor engineers through design reviews, problem-solving, and direct coaching; help develop future technical leaders.
• Establish and improve engineering methods, design standards, and best practices across projects.
• Ensure engineering work and documentation meet Boston Engineering’s Quality Management System requirements.

Partner with clients and support business growth

• Serve as a primary technical interface for clients, communicating recommendations, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to technical and executive audiences.
• Build client confidence through sound engineering judgment, clear communication, and accountability for technical outcomes.
• Lead technical contributions to proposals, including solution concepts, development approaches, estimates, and risk assessments.
• Identify opportunities to expand client engagements through engineering expertise and an understanding of customer needs.

What You Bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Substantial experience developing complex mechanical and electromechanical products, typically gained through 10+ years of progressively responsible engineering work.
• Demonstrated success bringing products from concept through prototyping, verification, and manufacturing.
• Deep expertise in one or more relevant areas, such as precision electromechanical design, motion systems, robotics, or mechanisms.
• Experience setting technical direction and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through complex development challenges.
• Strong system-level thinking, including the ability to define interfaces and evaluate interactions among mechanical, electrical, and software elements.
• Proficiency with Creo and/or SolidWorks, engineering analysis, and technical design documentation.
• Strong working knowledge of DFM, DFA, design for cost, and reliability engineering.
• Sound judgment in uncertain situations, with the ability to anticipate issues, make decisions, and take responsibility for technical results.
• The ability to explain complex concepts and design tradeoffs clearly to engineers, clients, and business leaders.
• A collaborative leadership style and a record of mentoring engineers and helping teams succeed.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Experience That Would Be Especially Valuable

• Designing products for underwater or marine environments.
• Working in engineering services or product development consulting.
• Leading customer engagements, developing technical proposals, or helping win follow-on work.
• Familiarity with Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs.

If your experience aligns with the core responsibilities but does not include every preferred qualification, we encourage you to apply.

This role is restricted to US persons (i.e., US citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 USC 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. Boston Engineering will require proof of status prior to employment.

Employment Type: Full-Time Role

Reports to: Manager, Mechanical Engineering & Project Manager

Location: Office-based role in Waltham, Massachusetts

Relocation:  Not available at this time

Travel: Minimal

Salary Range: The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $185,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.The final offer amount will be determined by factors such as the candidate’s education, knowledge, experience, and skills. A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k) match, and paid time off, is also provided.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Interested?

Please contact Christine Higgins, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Boston Engineering 

email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Christine Higgins | LinkedIn