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Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Poplar Bluff, MO

... programming for clients that cannot participate in Level 10 Support clients nutritional needs to ... Employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts while performing duties of this job ...

... programming for clients that cannot participate in Level 10 Support clients nutritional needs to ... Employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts while performing duties of this job ...

... programming for clients that cannot participate in Level 10 Support clients nutritional needs to ... Employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts while performing duties of this job ...

... programming for clients that cannot participate in Level 10 Support clients nutritional needs to ... Employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts while performing duties of this job ...

Entry Level R D Mechanical Engineer information

See Poplar Bluff, MO salary details

$15

$29

$48

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 Poplar Bluff, MO is $29.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.04 and $33.51 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 Poplar Bluff, MO are hiring for Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer jobs?

Cities near Poplar Bluff, MO with the most Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level R&D Mechanical Engineer job openings in Poplar Bluff, MO as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $61,706 per year, or $29.7 per hour.

$58K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

The position serves as a Project Engineer at John J. Pershing VAMC in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. This position performs project planning, produces designs, manages designs, manages construction, and provides construction administration for Minor Construction Projects, Non-Recurring Maintenance (NRM) Projects, and Station Level Projects, including all areas and aspects (architectural, electrical, life safety, mechanical, civil, structural, etc.).
Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Education:
  1. Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Architecture. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be from a school with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering Accreditation Commission (excludes engineering technology) or National Council of Architectural Registration Boards curriculum. Examples of acceptable engineering and architectural degrees include, but are not limited to: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture and Architectural Engineering. Titles may vary from educational institutions and change over time; OR
  2. Evidence of passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination with a bachelor's degree. Evidence can be in the form of an Engineering in Training certificate issued from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico, or test results from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) identifying a passing score; OR
  3. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure as a Professional Engineer or Architect. Evidence of current professional registration or licensure can be from any State, the District of Columbia, Guam or Puerto Rico.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations:
Healthcare Engineer, GS-07: None beyond the basic requirements.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-09:
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:
  • One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR
  • Master of Engineering degree or Master of Architecture degree or Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in the basic requirements; OR
  • Bachelor's degree as outlined in the Basic Requirements above, plus two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the core competencies for GS-09 level assignment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts and practices of the engineering profession.
  • Ability to interpret relevant codes, regulations, guidelines and standards to make recommendations to assure compliance with healthcare facility programs.
  • Ability to understand the operational professional engineering needs of clinical services in the healthcare system.
  • Ability to prepare material on current technical topics and trends for presentation to other technical staff and mid-level hospital management and to keep abreast of changes in engineering technology related to a healthcare facility.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-11:
Experience or Education. Candidates at this level must meet one of the following:
  • One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR
  • Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Engineering or a related field of engineering as outlined in the Basic Requirements above; OR
  • Master of Engineering degree, Master of Architecture degree, Master of Science degree in Engineering or a related field of study as outlined in the Basic Requirements above, plus 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment; OR
  • Bachelor's degree as outlined in the Basic Requirements above, plus 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in a related field of study, provided the applicant's total background demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities for GS-11 level assignment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of either mechanical, electrical, structural, civil or other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
  • Knowledge of basic project management principles as applied to the healthcare setting.
  • Ability to apply healthcare engineering related standards, codes, policies and regulations, inclusive of, state and local codes.
  • Ability to communicate effective orally and in writing with internal and external customers with tact and diplomacy.
  • Ability to develop material for clinical or administrative staff that addresses the principles and application of engineering technology and/or theory used in healthcare.
  • Ability to advise staff on emerging engineering technology related to a healthcare facility, while keeping abreast of changes in such technology and utilizing the information to solve healthcare facility engineering challenges.
Healthcare Engineer, GS-12:
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the experience requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, structural, civil and other engineering/architectural principles, practices and their applications in the healthcare environment.
  • Knowledge of healthcare industry standards and related regulatory agency and organization (including, but not limited to The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), etc.) regulations, requirements, guides, policies, procedures, directives, standards and general medical program requirements as they relate to healthcare engineering.
  • Knowledge of construction standards, methods, practices and techniques, materials and equipment to determine compliance with engineering regulations and standards.
  • Skill in researching and analyzing information, conditions, human factors and projections to make sound engineering and business recommendations and decisions to proactively identify problems and develop innovative solutions within the context of applicable rules, regulations and procedures.
  • Ability to plan and execute complex, multi-faceted projects and inspections while prioritizing resources against approved scopes of work, contract documents and budgets.
  • Ability to organize and lead multi-disciplinary task forces with members from different departments and divisions, as well as design and construction firms.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Performance of the incumbent's duties may require extensive walking per day to meet with the facility managers and other clinic personnel. Trips to satellite outpatient clinics are sometimes necessary and will involve transportation via automotive vehicle. The work performed is of a precise nature requiring long periods of concentration that is often interrupted. Incumbent is often faced with changing priorities and with meeting deadlines.Education:Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER