• Job Description

  Req#: 177677

  Job Details

  Job Location: Colt Optics - Brighton, MI

  Position Type: Full Time

  Education Level: 4 Year Degree

  Salary Range: $150000.00 - $180000.00 Salary/year

  Job Shift: Day

  Job Category: Engineering

  Description

  Principal Mechanical Engineer – Colt Optics

  Colt Electro Optics (Colt Optics), a division of Colt CZ Group North America, is looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer.

  Located in Brighton Michigan, Colt Optics is a global supplier of electro-optics, magnified optics, night vision systems and other weapons, accessories and enablers.

  The Principal Mechanical Engineer will lead the design, development, and testing of mechanical systems and components for advanced defense products, such as riflescopes, thermal imaging devices, red dots, and laser rangefinders. This role will focus on creating robust, high-precision mechanical designs that meet stringent defense industry standards and perform reliably in extreme environments. The Principal Mechanical Engineer will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including optical, electrical, and software engineers, to deliver integrated solutions.

  Job Responsibilities:

  • Lead the mechanical integration of electro-optical components, including sensors, lasers, and digital displays, into compact, ruggedized systems suitable for military use
  • Work closely with product managers and military clients to translate mission requirements into robust mechanical designs
  • Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are scalable and cost-effective, leveraging domestic and international production capabilities
  • Represents the company at industry events (e.g., SHOT Show, AUSA) to showcase advancements in products.
  • Implement quality control measures to maintain precision and reliability, benchmarking against industry standards.
  • Lead discussions regarding precision manufacturing processes, such as CNC machining, injection molding, and coating technologies.
  • Direct R&D efforts to push the boundaries of machining capabilities and assembly processes to increase performance.
  • Lead Testing and Evaluation (T&E) programs to ensure systems meet military specifications and client requirements.
  • Help run rigorous testing protocols to sight operation under extreme conditions (e.g., waterproofing to 20 meters, shock resistance).
  • Oversee mechanical system architecture, ensuring optimal performance in low-light, adverse weather, and high-stress combat environments.
  • Design and help implement fixtures and jigs for manufacturing and product testing.
  • Contribute to research and development initiatives, exploring new materials, manufacturing techniques, and design methodologies to enhance product performance.
  • Create detailed technical drawings, specifications, and documentation to support manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
  • Provide expertise and mentorship to junior engineers, guiding the team in best practices for mechanical design, material selection, and ruggedization.

  Qualifications

  
  

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. Master’s or Ph. D relevant to mechanical systems in defense applications is desirable.
  • 10+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership role within the defense industry.
  • Experience taking a product through the whole cycle from concept, to design, to prototype, to manufacture, to support.
  • Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and finite element analysis (FEA) tools for stress, thermal, and vibration analysis.
  • Prior work with modeling and designing small arms weapon sights or firearms is a plus.

• About the company

  722959 Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt.

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