Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Design Engineer

West Hartford, Connecticut | Full Time | Direct Hire
Salary: $130,000 to $160,000

What Matters Most

• $130,000 to $160,000 base salary, with flexibility toward the top of the range for highly experienced candidates

• Full time, direct hire opportunity in West Hartford, Connecticut

• 8+ years of engineering experience in firearm product design and development

• Strong firearm mechanics, ballistics, materials science, and manufacturing knowledge

• PTC Creo CAD experience required

• Full product lifecycle ownership from concept and prototyping through testing and production

• Technical leadership opportunity with mentorship responsibility for junior engineers and design staff

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Design Engineer to lead the design and development of new firearm products and accessories from initial concept through production.

This is a highly technical product engineering role for someone who can take true ownership of complex designs, including prototyping, engineering analysis, testing, design optimization, documentation, manufacturing support, and product launch. The engineer will work across both commercial and government or defense product applications while ensuring designs meet rigorous safety, functionality, reliability, and durability requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle design and development of new firearm products and accessories

• Oversee prototype fabrication, testing, design refinement, and technical reporting

• Perform engineering analysis and simulation to optimize product performance, reliability, and manufacturability

• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation using PTC Creo

• Lead Design FMEAs and proactively manage technical risks throughout the development lifecycle

• Develop complete technical data packages supporting manufacturing, assembly, and product maintenance

• Support design activities involving multiple firearm platforms and future product lines

• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Production, Marketing, and Sales throughout product development

• Address product performance, supplier quality, production efficiency, and manufacturing challenges

• Support patent research, competitive analysis, and intellectual property development

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and design staff

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience

• Minimum 8 years of engineering experience in firearm design and development

• Strong understanding of firearm mechanics, ballistics, and materials science

• PTC Creo CAD experience required

• Strong 3D modeling and engineering drawing capabilities

• Experience designing products for commercial and government or defense markets

• Knowledge of applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements

• Experience with manufacturing processes including MIM, injection molding, casting, forgings, and sheet metal

• Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and technical documentation skills

Preferred Experience

• Creo Advanced Simulation

• Design FMEA and GD&T

• Product testing and validation

• Windchill database management

• Measurement equipment including micrometers, calipers, and comparators

• Patent development and intellectual property support

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a seasoned firearm product engineer who combines deep technical expertise with practical manufacturing knowledge and strong product ownership.

This person should be equally comfortable developing a concept in CAD, evaluating prototypes, analyzing test results, solving manufacturing challenges, and collaborating across the organization to bring a product successfully into production.

Benefits and Perks

• Base salary of $130,000 to $160,000 based on experience

• Full time, direct hire opportunity

• Senior level ownership of new product development

• Exposure to commercial and government or defense product programs

• Opportunity to influence future product platforms and engineering standards

• Technical leadership and mentorship responsibilities

Your New Organization

Our client is an established product engineering and manufacturing organization with a longstanding presence in its industry. The engineering team develops highly engineered products requiring close integration between design, testing, manufacturing, quality, and production.

This role offers significant ownership of new product development while working closely with technical and operational teams throughout the entire product lifecycle.

Your Career Partner

The Reserves Network, a veteran founded and family owned company, specializes in connecting exceptional talent with rewarding opportunities. With extensive industry experience, we are dedicated to helping you achieve your professional goals and shine in your field.

The Reserves Network values diversity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we foster an environment of respect, integrity, and trust in every aspect of employment.

The base salary range for this position is $130,000 to $160,000, excluding benefits, bonuses, or other compensation. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, technical expertise, and internal pay equity.