Manager R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Gainesville, GA

Duluth, GA (Onsite) | Aerospace & Avionics
9/80 Schedule Available – Every Other Friday Off

Great avionics performance depends on more than what happens inside the electronics. The mechanical packaging, thermal performance, structural integrity, PCB design, and optical systems all have to work together—and perform reliably in demanding flight environments.

At Universal Avionics, we’re looking for a Manager, Packaging and Optics who can lead both the people and the engineering behind these critical disciplines.

This is an opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineering leader who wants to remain technically connected to the work while developing talented engineers, influencing product design, and helping bring sophisticated electronic and opto-mechanical systems from concept through qualification.

Universal Avionics develops advanced avionics, enhanced vision systems, and intelligent cockpit technologies designed to improve aviation safety and situational awareness.

As Manager, Packaging and Optics, you’ll lead the Packaging and Optics team within Hardware Development, with responsibility spanning mechanical engineering, PCB design, and optical systems.

You’ll build and develop engineering talent, set team priorities and goals, manage resources and budgets, and partner with Program Management and other engineering disciplines to support successful program execution.

At the same time, this isn’t a role where you step away from the engineering. You’ll provide technical direction across electromechanical and opto-mechanical design, thermal and structural analysis, PCB design processes, display technologies, prototypes, and environmental qualification.

The result: a leadership role where you can develop people, shape engineering practices, and directly influence the hardware behind advanced avionics products.

• Lead, develop, and support a team of mechanical engineers and PCB designers, creating clear goals, expectations, and opportunities for growth
• Align departmental priorities, staffing, budgets, and engineering resources with company and program objectives
• Partner with Program Management to plan work, assign resources, track progress, and support successful program execution
• Provide technical leadership from early requirements and trade studies through detailed design, prototype development, testing, and qualification
• Guide mechanical and opto-mechanical designs for commercial and military aerospace applications
• Oversee thermal and structural analysis to ensure designs can perform reliably in their intended operating environments
• Drive effective collaboration between Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, and other engineering functions
• Lead PCB design practices, including IPC-aligned processes, data-library standards, and design/manufacturing reviews
• Guide the evaluation and selection of LCD technologies and the development of optical elements needed to meet product performance requirements
• Manage external optical design activities and maintain effective technical relationships with display and optical technology suppliers
• Support the development of optical test capabilities and verification strategies
• Maintain effective engineering design infrastructure, including PTC Creo and PTC Windchill
• Support environmental qualification, sustaining engineering, component obsolescence, and product-improvement activities

We’re looking for an experienced engineering leader who combines strong mechanical design expertise with the ability to develop people, coordinate complex technical work, and make sound engineering decisions.

• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• 7+ years of electromechanical design experience
• 7+ years working within integrated, multidisciplinary project teams
• Strong experience with thermal and structural finite element analysis
• Proficiency with PTC Creo 3D CAD
• Practical understanding of PCB assemblies and how mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing requirements come together
• Knowledge of machining/mill operations and sheet-metal design and fabrication
• Ability to guide complex mechanical designs for aerospace environments and requirements
• Experience collaborating effectively across Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and other technical functions
• Strong critical-thinking skills with the ability to make decisions when information is limited or technical tradeoffs are required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality environments

Experience leading and developing engineers, managing technical priorities, and coordinating engineering resources will be particularly valuable given the scope of this position.  

• Lead the mechanical engineering behind sophisticated avionics and display technologies
• Stay technically connected while developing and mentoring engineering talent
• Work across mechanical packaging, PCB design, optics, displays, thermal analysis, and structural engineering
• Influence products from early concepts and trade studies through prototype, testing, and qualification
• Solve engineering challenges where reliability and performance have a direct connection to flight
• Collaborate across Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Manufacturing, and Program teams
• Shape engineering tools, processes, and technical capabilities—not simply manage projects
• Lead a team whose work has a visible impact on both current products and future avionics technology

• The Packaging and Optics team has strong technical capability, clear priorities, and meaningful opportunities to grow
• Engineering resources and departmental goals remain aligned with program and business priorities
• Mechanical, PCB, and optical design activities integrate effectively with the broader product-development effort
• Thermal, structural, packaging, and optical risks are identified and addressed early
• Designs successfully progress from concept and analysis through prototype, verification, and qualification
• Engineering tools, design data, and review processes support disciplined and efficient execution
• Strong collaboration exists across Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Program Management, and other functions
• You become a trusted leader who develops people while maintaining the technical credibility to guide complex engineering decisions

Innovation
We challenge conventional approaches, explore new technologies, and continuously improve how we design and develop avionics products.

Excellence
We hold ourselves to high standards in engineering quality, technical rigor, reliability, and execution.

We Grow Together
We build stronger teams by sharing knowledge, developing our people, collaborating across disciplines, and helping one another succeed.

Make It Happen
We turn ideas into action, take ownership of challenges, make thoughtful decisions, and follow through to deliver results.

Benefits begin on your first day as a full-time employee.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with safe harbor match within 60 days
• 9/80 work schedule option
• Every other Friday off
• Vacation, sick time, and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Wellness and employee assistance programs
• And more

This role is based onsite in Duluth, Georgia, where close collaboration with Hardware Development, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management, laboratories, and other cross-functional partners is an important part of leading the team and supporting hands-on product development.

The position combines engineering leadership and office-based work with involvement in prototypes, test activities, and hardware development.

If you’re an experienced mechanical engineering leader who enjoys developing talented people while staying connected to complex technical work, this is an opportunity to make an impact on both the team and the technology.

Join Universal Avionics and lead the engineering behind the packaging, optics, and hardware that help bring advanced avionics technology to life.

Learn more: Universal Avionics

Universal Avionics’ products and technology are subject to U.S. export laws and regulations, including ITAR and EAR requirements. Employment eligibility may depend on work authorization and citizenship status in accordance with these regulations.