Mechanical Designer Jobs in Virginia
Mechanical Designer jobs in Virginia are active across defense, aerospace, and engineering services sectors, with openings ranging from entry-level drafters to senior design leads. The Northern Virginia corridor near Arlington and Reston, the Hampton Roads region, and the Richmond metro account for most of the hiring activity, anchored by large employers such as General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies. The most in-demand specialties include CAD-driven mechanical design for defense systems, HVAC and building systems design, and precision manufacturing support. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Title: SRF Mechanical Designer
Location:
Newport News, Virginia, US, 23606
#job-location.job-location-inline { display: inline; }
Category: Craft and Skilled Technicians
Work Arrangement Type: On-Site - No remote work
Classification: Technician III
Description:
At Jefferson Lab, you’ll champion cutting-edge science and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, and great minds truly matter.
The good-faith pay range for this role is $68,500.00 - $98,100.00 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.
What your job will be like:
The designer will be tasked to turn concepts and ideas into working assemblies and systems with independent thinking. The designer will be required to plan work assignments and maintain schedule. In addition, they may be tasked to follow projects through purchasing, fabrication, and installation.
In this job you will:
Work under the direction of Senior Designers, Engineers, and Physicists.to develop state of the art SRF components and systems.
Lead the system design in one or more of the SRF technology areas and may providing direction to more junior designers.
Design and drafting techniques with Siemens NX and AutoCAD software to create complex models and drawings of components and assemblies.
Understand and appropriately apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
Experience
Required: 9 or more years
Required: experience producing orthographic mechanical and fabrication drawings.
Education
Required: High School Diploma or GED
Preferred: Bachelor's Degree
Experience and Education Exchange
Education above the minimum may be substituted for experience. Relevant experience may not be substituted for education.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Able to provide input to schedule development.
Identifies conflicts and develops solutions.
High level skills, knowledge and ability in one technology trade or specialty.
Knowledge of theory, design, and techniques used at component and system levels.
Intermediate skills, knowledge and ability in other technologies.
Significant latitude in prioritizing and choosing work methods.
Leadership skills by coordinating multiple tasks/projects or a team.
About Jefferson Lab
Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community.
A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by SURATech, LLC, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.
Total Rewards at Jefferson Lab
At Jefferson Lab, we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Our benefits program includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans • Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave)
- 401(k) Plan – 9% Lab Contribution; 100% vested • Flexible Work Arrangements
- Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
- Live near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region with access to nearby beaches,
SURATech, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). SURATech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SURATech is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (unless doing so will result in an undue hardship). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@jlab.org or contact Human Resources by calling (757) 269-7100 and selecting option 1 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.
Employment with SURATech is conditional upon DOE approval if at any time during your employment you are participating in a Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program or Affiliated activity. Generally, such programs/activities include any foreign-state-sponsored attempt to acquire U.S.-funded scientific research through programs run or funded by the government that target scientists, engineers, students, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States. This includes positions or appointments, both domestic and foreign, titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received and whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.
Nearest Major Market: Hampton Roads
Title: SRF Mechanical Designer
Location:
Newport News, Virginia, US, 23606
#job-location.job-location-inline { display: inline; }
Category: Craft and Skilled Technicians
Work Arrangement Type: On-Site - No remote work
Classification: Technician III
Description:
At Jefferson Lab, you’ll champion cutting-edge science and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, and great minds truly matter.
The good-faith pay range for this role is $68,500.00 - $98,100.00 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.
What your job will be like:
The designer will be tasked to turn concepts and ideas into working assemblies and systems with independent thinking. The designer will be required to plan work assignments and maintain schedule. In addition, they may be tasked to follow projects through purchasing, fabrication, and installation.
In this job you will:
Work under the direction of Senior Designers, Engineers, and Physicists.to develop state of the art SRF components and systems.
Lead the system design in one or more of the SRF technology areas and may providing direction to more junior designers.
Design and drafting techniques with Siemens NX and AutoCAD software to create complex models and drawings of components and assemblies.
Understand and appropriately apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
Experience
Required: 9 or more years
Required: experience producing orthographic mechanical and fabrication drawings.
Education
Required: High School Diploma or GED
Preferred: Bachelor's Degree
Experience and Education Exchange
Education above the minimum may be substituted for experience. Relevant experience may not be substituted for education.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Able to provide input to schedule development.
Identifies conflicts and develops solutions.
High level skills, knowledge and ability in one technology trade or specialty.
Knowledge of theory, design, and techniques used at component and system levels.
Intermediate skills, knowledge and ability in other technologies.
Significant latitude in prioritizing and choosing work methods.
Leadership skills by coordinating multiple tasks/projects or a team.
About Jefferson Lab
Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community.
A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by SURATech, LLC, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.
Total Rewards at Jefferson Lab
At Jefferson Lab, we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Our benefits program includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans • Flexible Spending Accounts
- Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave)
- 401(k) Plan – 9% Lab Contribution; 100% vested • Flexible Work Arrangements
- Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
- Live near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region with access to nearby beaches,
SURATech, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). SURATech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SURATech is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (unless doing so will result in an undue hardship). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@jlab.org or contact Human Resources by calling (757) 269-7100 and selecting option 1 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.
Employment with SURATech is conditional upon DOE approval if at any time during your employment you are participating in a Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program or Affiliated activity. Generally, such programs/activities include any foreign-state-sponsored attempt to acquire U.S.-funded scientific research through programs run or funded by the government that target scientists, engineers, students, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States. This includes positions or appointments, both domestic and foreign, titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received and whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.
Nearest Major Market: Hampton Roads
See All 15 Mechanical Designer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Designer JobsMechanical Designer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mechanical Designer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mechanical designer jobs across Virginia.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA for 2D drafting and 3D modeling
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, engineering technology, or a closely related field
- Experience producing detailed fabrication drawings and GD&T-compliant tolerancing
- Familiarity with defense or government contracting environments and relevant security clearance eligibility
- Knowledge of materials selection, manufacturing processes, and design-for-manufacture principles
- Strong collaboration skills for working with cross-functional engineering and program teams
Mechanical Designer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mechanical designer in Virginia?
Most mechanical designer roles in Virginia require at minimum an associate or bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology or a related discipline, with a portfolio of CAD work as the clearest differentiator. Virginia does not require a state license specifically for mechanical designers, though engineers of record on sealed drawings must hold a Professional Engineer license issued by the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Certifications such as the Certified SolidWorks Professional or a CATIA credential strengthen applications considerably in the defense-heavy Virginia market.
Which companies hire mechanical designers in Virginia?
Employers hiring mechanical designers in Virginia right now include ASR International, Kiewit, and Affiliated Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense primes and federal contractors in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads areas means that many of these employers require candidates who can obtain or already hold a security clearance.
Which Virginia cities have the most mechanical designer jobs?
Richmond, Fort Eustis, and Arlington have the most mechanical designer openings in Virginia, based on current listings. Northern Virginia's proximity to the Pentagon and large defense contractors drives the highest volume, while Hampton Roads reflects the region's shipbuilding, naval systems, and aerospace manufacturing base, and Richmond draws from a mix of industrial equipment and engineering services firms.
Are there remote mechanical designer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Mechanical design work typically requires access to physical prototypes, lab environments, or controlled facilities, which limits full remote arrangements. About 83% of mechanical designer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be concentrated in the early-phase conceptual design and CAD modeling work rather than roles involving testing, integration, or manufacturing floor support.
How can I get hired as a mechanical designer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to defense and engineering contractors in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads that run structured co-op or new-graduate programs, including General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman, which regularly hire engineering technologists directly from Virginia's technical colleges. Roles titled junior drafter, design technician, or CAD specialist are common stepping stones that transition into full mechanical designer positions. Building a portfolio of SolidWorks or AutoCAD projects and pursuing a Certified SolidWorks Associate credential gives candidates a clear edge in initial screening.
Where can I find and apply to mechanical designer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to mechanical designer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Find roles that fit your experience, location preference, and specialty area, then apply directly to each employer without any intermediary steps.
See All 15 Mechanical Designer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Mechanical Designer Jobs