Principal Mechanical Engineer

Job DescriptionJob description

Job description

Join Our Team as a Principal Mechanical Engineer!

Salary: Up to $120k–$130k

Location: Columbus, MS 39701

Are you ready to elevate your career in mechanical engineering? We’re seeking a dedicated and experienced Quality Engineer to join our dynamic team in Columbus, MS. If you're passionate about ensuring excellence in aerospace and defense industries, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as the lead technical expert on all machining and fabrication efforts for aerospace and defense projects.

Develop and optimize CNC programs for complex geometries and tight-tolerance components.

Troubleshoot machining issues and provide hands-on support for toolpath strategies, fixturing, and process reliability.

Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and design engineering to ensure designs are manufacturable and aligned with production capabilities.

Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for machining-related nonconformances.

Drive continuous improvement in machining processes to increase efficiency, reduce scrap, and improve quality.

Support new product introduction (NPI) with robust design-for-manufacturing (DFM) input and process development.

Specify machining equipment, tooling, and fixtures as part of capital investment planning.

Mentor junior engineers and technicians in best practices and advanced machining principles.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited institution.

15+ years of hands-on experience in machining, CNC programming, and fabrication within aerospace and/or defense industries.

Deep understanding of GD&T, precision tolerancing, and high-performance materials (e.g., titanium, Inconel, aluminum alloys).

Demonstrated success in solving complex manufacturing issues and driving process

improvement.

Familiarity with CAM software (e.g., Mastercam, NX, or similar) and CAD tools.

Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical teams and

production personnel.

Qualifications

Master’s degree or advanced coursework in manufacturing engineering or mechanical

systems.

Experience with AS9100, ITAR, and other regulatory/quality standards relevant to defense manufacturing.

Background in both prototype and production machining environments.

Exposure to additive manufacturing or hybrid manufacturing processes.