Senior Mechanical Designer (Contract)

SENIOR MECHANICAL DESIGNER

Location: Greater Seattle Area

Job Type: Contract (6+ weeks)

Base Salary Range: $90.00 - $120.00 per hour

(This range reflects pay across most U.S. geographic locations)

WHO WE ARE:

Teague is an independent design consultancy that combines technology expertise with a deep understanding of human behavior to design what's next for companies in automotive, commercial aviation, smart cities and infrastructure, advanced mobility, technology, space, and defense. On any given day, you might be prototyping a new space station, designing cutting-edge technology, or traveling around the world conducting research. We are approaching our one-hundred-year anniversary and are proudly employee-owned. Our culture fosters collaboration, accountability, and stability because when we succeed, we all win. Come be a part of something bigger than just a job and build your career with an employee-owned company that invests in you!

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Senior Mechanical Designer bridges creativity and engineering, turning visionary concepts into functional, manufacturable design solutions. This role sits at the intersection of systems engineering, mechanical engineering translating ambiguous problem spaces into clear design strategies. The Senior Mechanical Designer acts as a design advocate, partnering with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure that engineering decisions consistently align with user needs, product goals, and broader organizational priorities. The ideal candidate brings a first-principles mindset and hands on approach to deconstruct complex problems, identify the most critical requirements, and architect effective, scalable solutions. They are equally comfortable developing high-level system strategies as they are building and iterating on physical prototypes.  From concept development through production, the Senior Designer ensures every design achieves technical excellence, meets regulatory and manufacturing requirements, and reflects Teague's standard of creative innovation.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS:

This role follows a hybrid work model, with 1-2 days per week expected on-site/in the office.

WHO YOU ARE:

You're a hands-on mechanical designer who can take an ambiguous design challenge and turn it into a thoughtful, buildable solution. You bring strong technical judgment, a practical understanding of materials and manufacturing, and the ability to balance performance, safety, aesthetics, and feasibility. You're comfortable owning design work from concept through production, collaborating across disciplines and with clients, suppliers, and manufacturing partners to solve problems and keep projects moving. You're organized, detail-oriented, and accountable for the quality of your work, while also enjoying the opportunity to mentor others and share your expertise. Above all, you bring curiosity, professionalism, and a drive to continuously improve how things are designed and built.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

OWNING

• Lead the mechanical design development of interior components, systems, and structures for aircraft and other mobility products, delivering innovative, buildable solutions that meet performance, weight, and safety goals.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on materials, structural design, and manufacturing methods, guiding teams toward technically sound and creative solutions.
• Partner with clients to understand program priorities, design intent, and technical constraints-translating them into efficient and achievable design strategies.
• Mentor and support junior mechanical designers, providing technical feedback, coaching, and fostering a culture of excellence and learning.
• Champion Teague's mechanical design standards, processes, and data management practices, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and accountability.
• Model Teague's values of professionalism, innovation, and integrity while strengthening client trust through quality delivery and technical expertise.

THINKING

• Synthesize ambiguous inputs into clear requirements and translate them into actionable engineering approaches.
• Anticipate technical and integration challenges early in the design process, proactively identifying solutions that maintain aesthetic and functional goals.
• Evaluate structural performance, material selection, and manufacturing feasibility to inform design direction and reduce production risk.
• Collaborate closely with internal disciplines, including Industrial Design, Technical Build, and Visualization, to ensure cohesion across creative and technical deliverables.
• Engage with client engineering teams and external vendors to align mechanical solutions with program schedules, costs, and defined engineering interfaces.
• Continuously seek ways to optimize design workflows, component performance, and assembly processes using new tools, methods, and materials.
• Contribute to Teague's knowledge base by developing design standards, documentation, and best practices for future programs.

DOING

• Produce 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed drawings using SolidWorks or equivalent design tools, ensuring manufacturability and accuracy.
• Create documentation packages for mockups, validation builds, and production implementation.
• Conduct detailed design reviews and ensure technical deliverables meet internal and client standards for precision, safety, and performance.
• Coordinate directly with suppliers and manufacturing partners to resolve technical issues, validate feasibility, and implement design revisions.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver complete project packages, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and technically sound outcomes.
• Manage multiple priorities with discipline and attention to detail, maintaining organized records and design data in accordance with Teague's retention policies.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical or product design, preferably within aerospace, transportation, or highly regulated industries.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Proven track record leading mechanical design efforts from concept through production implementation.
• Strong understanding of materials (metals, composites, plastics), manufacturing processes, and assembly methods.
• Strong proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks preferred) and data management systems, including large model handling and Product Data Management (PDM) tools.
• Experience with finite element analysis software (Ansys preferred) for structural analysis and optimization
• Knowledge of FAA and OEM requirements for interior component design is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and presentation tools.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate design intent with engineering and manufacturing feasibility.
• Experience mentoring designers and collaborating in multidisciplinary teams.
• US persons required

The hourly rate for this job in most US geographic locations is $90.00 - $120.00 per hour