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Lead Mechanical Engineer

Dovetail Product Development
Newark, NJ Full Time
POSTED ON 3/1/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/25/2025

Lead Mechanical Engineer – The Builder, The Thinker, The Doer

We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer with 8 years of experience who thrives on solving tough problems and turning ideas into reality. Do you love the art of mechanism design, the precision of calculations, and the power of simulations, but also believe that nothing beats rolling up your sleeves and building a prototype to see what works? If so, we want to talk to you.

At Dovetail Product Development , we’re a team of engineers developing innovative hardware across industries—medical devices, aerospace, consumer products, energy storage, and beyond. We need a Lead Mechanical Engineer who is not just a technical expert, but also a hands-on team leader who embraces rapid prototyping and iteration to drive the best designs forward.

What Makes This Role Unique?

This isn’t just an engineering role. It’s engineering plus —plus leadership, plus strategy, plus a relentless drive to turn designs into reality. You’ll be a key technical leader guiding our mechanical engineering efforts, pushing innovation while ensuring practical, manufacturable solutions.

What You’ll Be Doing :

  • Mechanism Design & Analysis – Develop complex mechanical systems, precision mechanisms, and high-performance motion components.
  • Engineering Fundamentals – Drive deep technical analysis, from hand calculations to finite element analysis (FEA) and dynamic simulations.
  • Prototype, Test, Iterate – Rapidly build and test physical prototypes to validate designs, discover failures early, and improve performance.
  • Technical Leadership – Set the bar for high-quality mechanical design, mentor engineers, and lead design reviews.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration – Work with electrical, software, and manufacturing teams to develop fully integrated products.
  • Manufacturing & DFM / DFA – Ensure designs can be efficiently produced, leveraging machining, injection molding, casting, and additive manufacturing.

Technical Skills & Experience :

  • Expert in Mechanism Design – Deep knowledge of linkages, cams, gears, bearings, actuators, and motion control.
  • Strong Analytical Background – Proficiency in hand calculations, FEA (ANSYS, Abaqus). Kinematic / dynamic simulations (MATLAB, Adams, Simulink) nice to have.
  • Prototyping & Fabrication – Comfortable using machine shop tools, 3D printing, and rapid prototyping methods to bring concepts to life.
  • Material Science & Structural Analysis – Knowledge of metals, composites, and polymers for high-performance designs.
  • Manufacturing Process Expertise – Experience designing for CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal, and casting.
  • Design for Reliability & Compliance – Understanding of engineering standards and regulations relevant to aerospace, medical, or industrial applications.
  • What We’re Looking For :

  • A problem-solver – You see challenges as opportunities to innovate and improve.
  • Bias towards action – You don’t just theorize; you build, test, and refine until you get it right.
  • A mentor and leader – You share knowledge freely and help elevate those around you.
  • Business-minded – You understand how mechanical design choices impact cost, manufacturability, and product success.
  • A self-starter – You take initiative, move fast, and own your projects from start to finish.
  • What We Offer :

  • A team of like-minded engineers who care about great design and product, transparency, and taking action.
  • A collaborative, fast-paced environment where you’ll never be pigeonholed.
  • Minimum number of meetings to get in your way each week.
  • Performance-based bonuses on semi-annual basis because great work should be rewarded and our team success shared.
  • No bureaucracy, no egos—just smart people building cool stuff.
  • If you’re a mechanical engineer who loves tackling tough technical challenges and bringing designs to life, we want to hear from you. Let’s build something amazing together.

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