Lead Engineer [Technical and Development Support] - Military veterans preferred

Description:

Lead Engineer – Technical and Development Support

Primary Work Location: Fredericksburg, VA (On-site/Hybrid)

Must be a U.S Citizen: Yes

Clearance: Ability to obtain a clearance up to Top Secret if later needed

Job Summary

Applied Rapid Technologies (ART), a leading provider of rapid prototyping, low-volume production, and additive manufacturing services, is seeking a Lead Engineer with a strong background in production engineering and manufacturing operations. This mid-career leadership role bridges the gap between technical design, hands-on fabrication, and scalable production processes. The successful candidate will oversee engineering programs, drive process optimization, support government proposal efforts (SBIR/OTA), and champion continuous improvement within ART's ISO 9001-certified environment.

This role is ideal for a technically strong and operationally experienced engineer who thrives in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume production environment.

Specific Responsibilities:

Production Engineering Leadership

• Lead daily engineering support for active production jobs, including fixture design, print orientation planning, material selection, and throughput optimization.
• Ensure workflow efficiency, minimize downtime, and ensure schedule adherence across additive and subtractive manufacturing lines.
• Identify and implement process improvements in part finishing, quality inspection, and throughput enhancement.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers, technicians, and interns.

Technical Program Oversight

• Manage full lifecycle of engineering projects—from design validation and prototyping to transition-to-production activities.
• Serve as technical lead for complex manufacturing challenges, providing hands-on support and directing cross-functional engineering solutions.
• Drive root cause analysis and resolution of technical issues affecting production quality or delivery performance.

New Technology & Product Development

• Support design and development of customer parts and in-house tooling using advanced additive manufacturing and CNC methods.
• Evaluate and integrate new equipment, software, or process capabilities to expand ART's production capacity and versatility.
• Apply DfAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) principles to maximize efficiency and reliability in customer parts.

Proposal Development (SBIR/OTA & Government Contracts)

Lead or contribute to the technical development of proposals for SBIR, STTR, OTA, and other federal R&D and production opportunities.

• Develop level-of-effort and costing estimates based on production methods, equipment utilization, and resource planning.
• Collaborate with business development staff on capture strategies and client engagement efforts.
• Quality & Continuous Improvement
• Champion ART's ISO 9001 quality system with a focus on production process control, traceability, and nonconformance mitigation.
• Develop work instructions, inspection plans, and control documents to improve consistency and reduce variation in production.
• Lead production-focused Kaizen or Lean initiatives to improve quality, reduce rework, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering
• 7+ years of experience in engineering, with at least 3 years in a production/manufacturing environment.
• Deep knowledge of additive manufacturing techniques (FDM, SLA, SLS) and post-processing operations.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems in a job shop or small-batch manufacturing environment.
• Experience with process validation, design transfer, and new product introduction (NPI).
• Knowledge of vacuum casting, urethane molding, or injection mold prototyping.
• Experience with CNC machining, rapid tooling, and low-volume production workflows.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage high-mix, custom production pipelines.
• Proficiency with CAD software and basic CAM/post-processing tools.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality systems and production documentation practices.
• Proven experience in SBIR/OTA proposal development or government R&D contracting.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Lean Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement certification.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Normal office environment.

Travel Requirements

• 10%

Company Description

Obsidian Solutions Group LLC (OSG) is a fast-growing professional services firm based in Fredericksburg, VA. We create value for our customers by delivering technology-enabled & mission-oriented technical solutions that solve complex problems, protecting people, information, and assets. Our core capabilities are in providing Enterprise IT, Intelligence Analysis, Production & Development and Knowledge-Based Professional Services Solutions that enable the customer's mission. Obsidian Solutions Group LLC is a certified 8(a), service-disabled, veteran-owned small business.

A career at Obsidian Solutions Group means you are able to put your expertise, credentials, and talents to great use working with customers in the DOD and Intelligence Community, while enjoying the excitement of working in a fast-growing organization committed to making a difference for our customers and in our community. Contribute independently and collaboratively alongside our amazing team of doers and thinkers. Obsidian Solutions Group is small enough to offer a family atmosphere yet large enough to deliver a highly competitive compensation package. We hire and retain the best in the industry, offering exceptional benefits that protect the well-being of our employees, their spouses and domestic partners, and their families.

Our corporate philosophy is centered on hiring and retaining employees with the requisite skills, professional experience, personal commitment, and ethical standards necessary to foster a culture of operational excellence necessary to surpass our customer's expectations.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Obsidian Solutions Group is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, protected veteran status, and any other non-merit factor, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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