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Retired Mechanical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

You will require advanced knowledge of mechanical systems, engineering principles, and experimental ... Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days ...

Retired SY workers * Mechanical trades or engineering technician experience, degreed engineer, or retired SUBMEPP or SY (shop 38,31,260) * Kittery ME, Work package development experience

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Retired Mechanical Engineer information

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$45.5K

$102.9K

$166.5K

How much do retired mechanical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for retired mechanical engineer in the United States is $102,878.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $126,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Retired Mechanical Engineer position, and why are they important?

A successful Retired Mechanical Engineer will have a robust background in mechanical design, analysis, and project management, supported by an engineering degree and professional licensure such as a PE. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and industry standards is often essential through one’s career. Strong problem-solving abilities, mentorship, and clear communication are valuable soft skills for those transitioning into consulting, part-time, or volunteer engineering roles after retirement. These competencies ensure continued effectiveness, respect, and value whether contributing expertise, advising teams, or pursuing new opportunities post-retirement.

What types of opportunities are available for retired mechanical engineers who still wish to remain active in the field?

Retired mechanical engineers often find opportunities in consulting, mentoring, or part-time project roles, where their years of experience are highly valued. Many companies and organizations seek retired professionals for advisory positions, technical review panels, or to help train and support younger engineers. You may also choose to volunteer your expertise for nonprofits, educational institutions, or community development projects. The flexibility of these roles typically allows you to tailor your work to your availability and interests while making a meaningful impact in your area of expertise.

What does a Retired Mechanical Engineer do?

A Retired Mechanical Engineer is someone who has concluded their professional career in mechanical engineering but may still engage in consulting, mentoring, or personal projects. Many retired engineers apply their knowledge to volunteer work, part-time roles, or hobbies like DIY projects and invention. Some also share their experience through teaching, writing, or professional organizations. Retirement doesn't always mean a complete departure from engineering—it often allows for more flexibility in applying technical expertise in new ways.

More about Retired Mechanical Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Retired Mechanical Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Retired Mechanical Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Retired Mechanical Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Retired Mechanical Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Retired Mechanical Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $102,878 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

United States Fleet Forces Command

Portsmouth, VA • On-site, Remote

$41K - $66K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Summary
You will serve as a MECHANICAL ENGINEER in the Fluid, Mechanical, Engineering and Planning Division, Engineering and Planning Department of of NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD.
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Duties
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  • You will perform engineering analysis, design, and evaluation.
  • You will prepare engineering drawings and technical documents for complex nuclear and non-nuclear ship class systems and ship alteration.
  • You will be responsible for technical adequacy, accuracy, and timely execution of complex mechanical design projects.
  • You will prepare procedures for conducting tests on various mechanical equipment and systems.
  • You will prepare specifications for the procurement of special material and services associated with the assigned projects.
  • You will perform engineering analysis and calculations associated with project designs.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Generally, current federal employees applying for GS jobs must serve at least one year at the next lower grade level. This requirement is called time-in-grade. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • This is a bargaining unit position.
  • You will be required to successfully complete a pre-appointment physical examination.
  • You will be required to complete training, obtain, and maintain a government credit card for travel and travel-related purchases.
  • You will be required to wear personal protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, coveralls, glasses, goggles, respirators and safety shoes continuously for the duration of the work shift.
  • Work is performed in areas where potentially harmful physical and chemical agents are present (e.g. fumes, dust, heat, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and chemicals). You will be required to participate in medical surveillance programs.
  • This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Passport.
  • This position is subject to work an uncommon tour, including nights, weekends, and holidays to meet mission requirements. Overtime or night differential pay and/or unusual duty hours may be required.

Qualifications
GS-07:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
  • Experience evaluating and applying developmental techniques in solving engineering problems.
  • Experience assisting with performing engineering analysis, design, and evaluation.
  • Experience evaluating and applying the latest developments and techniques in solving problems.

GS:05:
Meeting Basic Education Requirements is qualifying for the GS-05 grade level.
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.
Additional information
This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.
A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
During the application process you will have the ability to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions in the local commuting area. Depending on the hiring organization and the position being filled, job requirements (e.g., security clearance, travel, drug testing, financial disclosure filing, bargaining unit status, etc.) may vary. Other hiring managers filling similar positions may offer relocation expense reimbursement and/or may offer recruitment incentives for new employees, depending on funding availability and in accordance with policy. If you opt-in and are referred on a certificate, your resume will be available to other hiring managers for 180-days from the date the job announcement closes. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf
PPP applicants will be placed at the FPL, if determined Well Qualified (WQ). To receive priority consideration, the FPL must be the same grade level or equivalent of the retained grade or the grade held immediately prior to separation.
ICTAP Applicants: To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority as an ICTAP candidate, displaced Federal employees must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a rating in the highly qualified category (score 85) or higher. ICTAP candidates must provide copies of all of the following documentation at the time of application: 1) agency notice; 2) most recent performance appraisal; and 3) most recent SF-50 or notification of personnel action that includes position, grade level, and duty location. Applicants who do not provide this documentation will not receive consideration as an ICTAP candidate. For more information about ICTAP eligibility please review the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/
Military Spouse Preference applicants will be placed at the highest grade for which they have applied and are determined Best Qualified (BQ). A BQ military spouse possesses knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies comparable to others who meet the competitive referral criteria for the specific position.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.