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Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Norfolk, VA

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Norfolk, VA · On-site +1

$56K - $84K/yr

You will serve as a Mechanical Engineer in the Military Sealift Command (MSC), Engineering ... B., J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the ...

Marine Mechanical Engineer Level 1 Business unit: Gibbs & Cox, as part of the Maritime Surface ... This entry-level role is suited for an engineer with foundational technical knowledge, strong ...

Marine Mechanical Engineer Level 1 Business unit: Gibbs & Cox, as part of the Maritime Surface ... This entry-level role is suited for an engineer with foundational technical knowledge, strong ...

The Mechanical Engineer designs, models, fabricates, integrates, and evaluates mechanical solutions ... D) coverage, with options for Dependent Coverage. Employees are also eligible to participate in a ...

Description Marine Mechanical Engineer Level 1 Business unit: Gibbs & Cox, as part of the Maritime ... This entry-level role is suited for an engineer with foundational technical knowledge, strong ...

... engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. A ... D. degree -OR- * Successful completion of Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that is related to ...

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Entry Level R D Mechanical Engineer information

See Norfolk, VA salary details

$17

$32

$53

How much do entry level r&d mechanical engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level r&d mechanical engineer in Norfolk, VA is $32.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.06 and $36.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectEntry Level R&D Mechanical EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related fieldBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, development teams, innovation-focused settingsDesign offices, manufacturing facilities, product development teams
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, tech companies, R&D departmentsManufacturers, engineering firms, product companies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level R&D roles in mechanical engineeringDifferences in design-focused mechanical engineering roles

Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineers focus on developing new technologies and prototypes in research environments, while Mechanical Design Engineers primarily work on designing and improving existing products for manufacturing. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds but differ in daily tasks and work settings.

What cities near Norfolk, VA are hiring for Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer jobs?

Cities near Norfolk, VA with the most Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer job openings in Norfolk, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,814 per year, or $32.1 per hour.

$56K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Assist with technical aspects of marine or mechanical engineering projects.

  • Support field inspections to determine maintenance capabilities.

  • Gather data for reports related to marine and mechanical engineering principles.


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 539 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 49 rated military and defense


Job description

This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.
Qualifications:Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas as demonstrated in your resume:
GS-09:
  • Experience applying marine and mechanical engineering principles when gathering data for reports.
  • Experience assisting with technical aspects of the marine or mechanical engineering discipline projects.
  • Experience supporting field inspections to determine maintenance capabilities.
GS-07:
  • Experience reviewing plans, specifications and preliminary engineering reports and design drawings.
  • Experience communicating orally and in writing on a range of engineering matters.

Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
IOR:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/mechanical-engineering-series-0830/
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.Education:

**Applicants must meet the following Basic Requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual: Applicants must possess.**

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, for Professional and Scientific Positions and Professional Engineering Positions, 0800 Basic Requirements:
Combination of education and experience -- college-level education Degree: Engineering.
OR
Leading to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET;
OR
Include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
Training, and/or technical experience that furnish
1. A thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering.
2. A good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:
You may qualify if you meet one of the following:
GS-07:
You must have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's from an accredited institution AND must have documented Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) or one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least a GS-05 at the undergraduate level in one of the following:
A) Class Standing - upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses in the college, university, or major subdivision
B) Grade Point Average - 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on your official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of curriculum; OR 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum. If more than 10 percent of total undergraduate credit hours are non-graded, i.e. pass/fail, CLEP, CCAF, DANTES, military credit, etc., you cannot qualify based on GPA
C) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (note: freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this position). (If qualifying based on class standing or honor society membership, provide appropriate documentation).
GS-09:
You have one full year (18 semester hours or the equivalent) of graduate level study, or possess a master's or higher degree, e.g., LL.B., J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of this position. Such fields include business administration, industrial management, industrial engineering, industrial psychology, public administration, political science, or government. (Submit copy of transcripts).
OR
You have at least one year (12 months) of specialized experience, that provided knowledge of to perform successfully the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower qualifying pay band or equivalent grade under the General Schedule (GS) or other pay systems. Equivalent experience may be at the level of the lowest GS grade covered by the applicable pay band; however, the experience must demonstrate KSA's to successfully perform the duties of the position being filled.
OR
You must have a combination of graduate education as described above and the type of specialized experience as described above, which when combined would equate to 100%. (To compute, first determine your total qualifying graduate level education as a percentage of the graduate education required; then determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of experience described above; add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal to at least 100%.) (Submit a copy of your transcript.)

Employment Type: OTHER

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