Mechanical Engineering Specialist

STV's Transit Vehicle Group within our Transportation and Infrastructure Division is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineering Specialist to support a range of transit vehicle programs in the Chicago region.

This role will supplement existing staff and provide in-house expertise in areas such as vibration analysis, engine emissions, car structures, and train control systems. The position offers the opportunity to take technical ownership of critical system areas, lead design reviews, and support problem-solving for complex vehicle performance issues.

You'll work closely with a multidisciplinary team to support the design, maintenance, and modernization of rail and transit vehicle systems. Candidates with prior exposure to mechanical, electrical, or control systems for rail, automotive, or aerospace vehicles are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or support design reviews, troubleshooting, and problem resolution for key vehicle subsystems (carbody structure, engines and emissions, train control, noise or vibrations).
• Provide subject matter expertise in one or more specialty areas (e.g. structural integrity, vibration mitigation, emissions systems, train control).
• Manage task order assignments and support larger programs in a deputy project manager role.
• Conduct inspections, field testing, and engineering assessments of rail rolling stock and related systems.
• Review and interpret complex engineering drawings, schematics, and technical specifications.
• Analyze system performance, test data, and failure trends to support recommendations for design improvements.
• Develop technical documentation, test reports, and engineering change proposals.
• Collaborate with internal teams and clients to ensure successful project execution.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical standards and best practices within the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 5+ years of engineering experience, preferably in rail, transit, vehicle systems, or a related field (aerospace, defense, or automotive).
• Strong technical foundation in mechanical systems, with familiarity in vibration analysis, structural assessment, or control systems integration.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and diagrams.
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and present technical findings to stakeholders.
• Flexibility to travel up to 25%, primarily for short-term or same-day client visits.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing or reviewing vehicle system specifications.
• Exposure to structural analysis tools (RISA, ANSYS) or data analytics platforms.
• Background in emissions testing, vibration mitigation, or systems performance modeling.

Compensation Range:

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At STV, we are fully committed to expanding our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that will reflect the clients we serve and the communities we work in, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

STV offers the following benefits * Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account * Dental insurance * Vision insurance * Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) * Disability insurance * Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment * 401(k) Plan * Retirement Counseling * Employee Assistance Program * Paid Time Off (16 days) * Paid Holidays (8 days) * Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) * Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) * Continuing Education Program * Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV's good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.