Engineering Jobs in Roanoke, VA

On the heels of achieving 3X growth, Virginia Transformer is hiring to do it again!

We're strategically building our team for the next 3X growth cycle — a phase that is both intense and incredibly rewarding. We're highly selective about who joins us, because this journey isn't for everyone.

If you have the drive, grit, and expertise to perform at a high level — and you want to grow your career 3X alongside the Company's growth — we'd love to talk.

Apply below and let's start the conversation.

Who We Are

Virginia Transformer is the largest U.S.-owned producer of power transformers in North America, and we've been able to grow the past 50-plus years through an unwavering focus on delivering for our customers. We're more than 5,400 people strong and are known throughout the industry for being an engineering company that makes premium quality transformers in the shortest lead times.

As a privately held, organically growing company, we thrive on nimbleness, innovation, and tenacity.

Join Our Team

If you love the thrill of securing the U.S. electric grid, enabling all manufacturing in the country, and the energy of a fast-moving train — this is the place for you. We train hard, grow together, and lead with purpose. Every transformer we build is custom, every challenge unique, and every team member essential.

We're looking for those ready to lead, fueled by commitment, and driven by impact. We are growing so fast that all our available roles are not yet posted, so let us know if you are interested and we will follow-up.

Job Title: Director of Mechanical Engineering

Location: Roanoke, VA (On-site, with regular travel to multiple U.S. plants)

About the Role

Virginia Transformer Corporation is seeking a hands-on Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the mechanical design and development function across six manufacturing plants. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in mechanical systems, metallurgy, and polymers, along with strong leadership experience in custom electromechanical equipment design.

This role will be responsible for standardizing design practices, improving manufacturability, and ensuring all mechanical designs meet rigorous standards of quality, performance, and safety. You will collaborate closely with plant-level engineering teams, corporate R&D, sourcing, and vendor quality to drive innovation, consistency, and cost optimization across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of mechanical design engineers across multiple sites, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent application of the mechanical design manual and design standards across all six plants.
• Partner with corporate R&D to advance new mechanical design initiatives and introduce innovative materials, features, and product enhancements.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the design teams, driving measurable improvement in design quality, efficiency, and throughput.

Design & Engineering Execution

• Oversee the design and development of mechanical assemblies, ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide direct, hands-on technical support when needed — including concept development, modeling, and problem-solving for complex design challenges.
• Apply deep understanding of metallurgy, polymers, and material properties to improve product performance, longevity, and thermal characteristics.
• Establish, update, and enforce design automation and process assurance systems to maintain consistency and reduce variability in mechanical design outputs.
• Review and approve detailed mechanical drawings, design calculations, and documentation for accuracy and compliance with internal and industry standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sourcing and Vendor Quality Assurance to qualify suppliers and evaluate materials or components for new or alternative sourcing.
• Participate in design reviews, non-conformance investigations (NCRs), and root cause/corrective action efforts to resolve mechanical and manufacturing issues.
• Work closely with plant management and production teams to ensure mechanical designs support operational goals and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with Safety and Compliance functions to ensure adherence to industry, regulatory, and environmental standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, Master's degree in mechanical engineering preferred. PE is a plus.
• Minimum 15-20 years of experience in thermo-mechanical design of custom electromechanical equipment, with at least 5 years in a senior management or multi-site leadership role.
• Proven background in metallurgy, polymers, material science, or industrial product design from manufacturing, energy, aerospace, rail, or related industries.
• Strong knowledge of FEA/FEM analytical tools, CAD systems, and 3D design platforms (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams in a plant, multi plant or global manufacturing environment.

Skills & Attributes

• Expert-level proficiency in CAD design practices, finite element modeling, and mechanical systems analysis.
• Deep technical understanding of materials, thermal performance, stress analysis, and mechanical reliability.
• Hands-on problem solver with a proactive, floor-level approach to engineering challenges.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, able to influence across engineering, operations, and executive leadership.
• Strong organizational ability to lead large engineering teams (100+ engineers) across multiple sites.
• Strategic mindset with operational discipline — balancing innovation with manufacturability and cost control.

Why Join Us

At Virginia Transformer, you'll have the opportunity to shape the mechanical engineering vision for North America's leading manufacturer of custom power transformers. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic influence, ensuring that innovation, reliability, and precision remain at the heart of every product we build.

*No Experience Necessary*

ABOUT THIS JOB

***THIS POSITION REQUIRES AN ENLISTMENT IN THE U.S. ARMY OR ARMY RESERVE***

As a Combat Engineer, you’ll work quickly and skillfully to help Soldiers navigate while on combat missions by constructing bridges, clearing barriers with explosives, and detecting and avoiding mines and other environmental hazards. You'll provide expertise and come up with quick and creative engineering solutions, constructing fighting positions, fixed and floating bridges, and obstacles and defense positions.

Skills you’ll learn align with Construction & Engineering, Demolition & Explosives, Operate Heavy Equipment. In addition, you could earn 45 nationally recognized certifications!

JOB DUTIES

• Maintain emergency notification data
• Maintain radio and data distribution systems
• Perform signal support functions and technical assistance for computer systems
• Provide technical assistance and training for local-area networks
• Maintain equipment, terminal devices, assigned vehicles and power generators

REQUIREMENTS

• 14 weeks of One Station Unit Training, which combines Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training
• U.S. Citizen
• 17 to 34 Years Old
• High School Diploma or GED
• Meet Tattoo Guidelines
• No Major Law Violations
• No Medical Concerns

BENEFITS

The Army offers a complete package of benefits that not only supports you and your family but also helps you advance in your career. Whether you serve part-time or full-time as an enlisted Soldier or Army Officer, you’ll earn competitive pay with opportunities for bonuses, as well as receive health care at little to no cost. You could also receive money for education, student loan repayment assistance, training and certifications, housing, living expenses, and more.

• Paid Training and credentialing to strengthen your skillsets
• Monthly salary (based off pay grade and time in service)
• Housing and meal allowance for full-time Soldier
• 30 days paid annual vacation
• 401(K) type savings plan
• Full-coverage medical and dental insurance for Soldiers and immediate family member
• Paid tuition opportunities to continue your education
• Signing bonus - up to $40,000 in cash bonuses for completing training in selected Military Occupational Specialties

Job Title : Nuclear Engineer (Naval Reactors Engineer) Category / Component : Officer • Active Overview Design, regulate, and oversee the Navy's nuclear propulsion program, including reactor design, fleet operations, and eventual defueling and decommissioning of nuclear powered ships and submarines from Naval Reactors Headquarters and associated Department of Energy laboratories and shipyards.

Key Responsibilities Provide technical direction in areas such as reactor and fluid systems design, reactor physics, materials development, component design for steam generators, pumps, and valves, instrumentation and control for reactor and propulsion plants, testing and quality control, radiation shielding, and chemistry and radiological controls; review designs and analyses from laboratories, shipyards, and industry partners; coordinate with fleet units to ensure safe and reliable nuclear plant operation.

What to Expect Assume significant technical responsibility early in your career as part of a lean headquarters staff; work primarily in an analytical and oversight role rather than operating plants at sea; balance long term engineering projects with time sensitive fleet and shipyard issues; frequent coordination with senior civilian engineers, naval officers, and technical teams; high expectations for attention to detail, judgment, and written and oral communication.

Work Environment Work mainly at Naval Reactors Headquarters in the Washington, District of Columbia area with regular engagement with Department of Energy laboratories, nuclear training sites, shipyards, and nuclear powered ships and submarines; office based work that includes document reviews, technical meetings, inspections, and site visits rather than day to day shipboard watchstanding.

Pathways, Training & Advancement Officer commissioning through programs such as Officer Candidate School or the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program followed by a structured technical qualification program at Naval Reactors; rotational exposure to laboratories, prototypes, shipyards, and fleet support issues; progressive responsibility leading projects and becoming a subject matter expert, with opportunities for professional military education and advanced graduate study in technical fields.

Entry through the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program for qualified college students and recent graduates, or selection via Officer Candidate School for those who already hold qualifying degrees; all applicants must meet Nuclear Propulsion Program academic and technical screening standards in addition to general officer commissioning requirements.

Qualifications All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include: Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy, which may involve United States citizenship or other legal residency and work status, depending on the program and current law and policy A high school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions, and a bachelor's or qualifying professional degree for officer positions Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy.

Some communities have more restrictive age ranges Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for enlisted roles or officer qualification tests for officer programs Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.

Additional qualifications for this job may include: Completion of a rigorous technical degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a closely related field that includes strong backgrounds in calculus and physics; outstanding academic record, particularly in technical coursework; United States citizenship and eligibility for a high level security clearance; strong technical aptitude and comfort with detailed analytical work.

Education Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities.

Specific options depend on the Sailor's status, training, and current Navy policy.

Pay, Benefits & Service Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options.

Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.

Incentives Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed.

Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.

Notes and Disclaimers This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community.

It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes.

Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.