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

ENGINEER

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$127K/yr

You will serve as a ENGINEER in the Mechanical Engineering Branch, Combatant Craft Division, of the ... mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and ...

... d love to hear from you. Responsibilities: * Research technical manuals, ship drawings, feedback ... Bachelor's Degree in Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical ...

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Immediate opening and urgently hiring! (Entry-level Mechatronics Technician can be considered at ... Mechanical and Electrical machine and Hydraulics maintenance * Extensive travel 1-2 weeks at a time ...

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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 5, 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.

$127K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


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

You will serve as a ENGINEER in the Mechanical Engineering Branch, Combatant Craft Division, of the Naval Architecture and Engineering
Department, Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, at our Virginia Beach Office on Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek of NAVSRFWARCEN DET.
Qualifications:Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the ND-04 (GS-12/13 equivalent) grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following as professional Engineer: designing maritime platform mechanical systems, overseeing fabrication, implementing test protocols, identifying deficiencies, facilitating corrective actions, and delivering functional capability. Demonstrated ability to provide team leadership, make sound technical decisions, lead technical reviews, develop and implement technical standards, mentor personnel, and resolve conflicts. Effective in advising senior leaders on technical matters to inform strategic initiatives or solicit support.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management website:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series AND https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf
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 education requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Standards Manual:
Successful completion of a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree (or higher) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
OR
Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http://www.nspe.org
OR
Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico The FE examination is not administered by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.
OR
Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A (above). The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A (above)
OR
Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily, there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.
Employment Type: OTHER

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