Principal Mechanical Engineer
Company Overview
What’s the best place we’ve ever built? The place where we work. At Home Depot, our goal is to provide the highest level of service, the broadest selection of products, and the most competitive prices. As the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, we operate more than 2,200 retail stores across North America. And each of our associates are focused one thing — helping our customers build and improve their homes, businesses, and ultimately their lives.
Position Purpose
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide technical leadership in the development of complex electromechanical automation systems. This role will lead the architecture, design, and commercialization of innovative products from concept through production, while partnering across engineering disciplines and business functions to deliver reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions.
The ideal candidate combines deep mechanical engineering expertise with strong systems thinking, exceptional technical judgment, and a proven ability to lead cross-functional product development efforts. As a senior technical leader, you will influence engineering strategy, mentor technical talent, and help establish world-class engineering practices that enable organizational growth and innovation.
Key Responsibilities
- Apply extensive experience to bring complex electromechanical products from concept through commercialization, balancing product performance, reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and cost objectives.
- Define product and system requirements while driving alignment across mechanical, electrical, embedded software, controls, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and field service teams.
- Lead strategic, cross-functional product development programs from initial concept, technical planning, and architecture through product launch, manufacturing ramp-up, and field deployment.
- Develop comprehensive product validation strategies, including proof-of-concept prototypes, engineering validation, design verification, system validation, and reliability testing.
- Provide technical leadership in the design of innovative mechanisms, structural systems, and integrated electromechanical assemblies, applying strong engineering judgment and mechanical intuition to solve complex technical challenges.
- Drive Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Serviceability (DFS), Design for Reliability (DFR), and cost optimization initiatives to ensure successful transition from development into production and long-term product support.
- Make and influence critical technical decisions involving system architecture, engineering tradeoffs, technology selection, risk management, and development priorities while ensuring alignment with business strategy and customer needs.
- Establish and maintain high standards for engineering excellence, product reliability, maintainability, safety, regulatory compliance, and overall design quality throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to evaluate technologies, resolve technical challenges, improve quality, and optimize production readiness.
- Mentor and develop mechanical engineers through technical coaching, design reviews, knowledge sharing, recruiting, interviewing, and career development initiatives.
- Strengthen organizational capability by improving engineering processes, development infrastructure, design documentation, product lifecycle management practices, and operational excellence as the company scales.
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor to engineering leadership, influencing long-term technology strategy and product roadmaps.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; Master's degree preferred.
- 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience developing complex electromechanical products, with demonstrated success leading products from concept through commercialization.
- Deep expertise in mechanical design, machine design, precision mechanisms, structural analysis, materials selection, and manufacturing processes.
- Proven experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and influencing technical decisions across multiple disciplines.
- Strong understanding of product development methodologies, stage-gate processes, systems engineering principles, and technical risk management.
- Extensive experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Serviceability (DFS), Design for Reliability (DFR), tolerance analysis, and cost optimization.
- Experience developing and executing verification and validation plans, including prototype evaluation, design verification, system validation, and reliability testing.
- Proficiency with modern 3D CAD platforms (such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or Inventor) and engineering analysis tools.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to engineering teams, executive leadership, suppliers, and customers.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing automation equipment, robotics, material handling systems, industrial machinery, or other complex electromechanical systems.
- Knowledge of motion control systems, sensors, pneumatics, servo systems, and controls integration.
- Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), manufacturing ramp-up, and supplier development.
- Familiarity with PLM systems, FMEA, GD&T, DFMEA/PFMEA, statistical analysis, and reliability engineering methodologies.
- Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth product development organizations.
Pay Range
The pay range for this position is between $150,000.00 – $200,000.00*
Work Location
Onsite – These roles offer the opportunity to be part of a team at a specific physical location. Associates in these locations work in person at a local store, warehouse, or office, supporting daily operations and building strong relationships with their teams.
Building Location
8820
411 Waverley Oaks Road
Waltham, MA
Once you’ve applied, please come back and apply for other jobs at this store and any store near you.
Online Assessments
As part of our application process for this role, there is an online assessment that you will need to complete. You’ll be directed to the link to start the assessment immediately after submitting your application. Once you click on the assessment link, you’ll have 96 hours to complete it. You may stop and restart the assessment as many times as needed during your 96-hour time frame. The assessment should only take about 20 minutes to complete.
During the assessment, we’ll ask you questions about how you approach work and various other work-related situations. The questions are based on characteristics that are related to performing successfully in hourly roles at The Home Depot, including: how you work as part of a team; whether you are responsible, dependable and thorough; and your ability to learn new skills. For Store/Merchandising roles we will ask a few additional questions around how you help customers and drive sales.
If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation related to the assessment, or you would like to obtain more information about the assessment, click here.
Benefits
Parental Leave
Paid parental leave to bond with your new addition
Profit-Sharing Bonuses
Merit increases and performance bonuses
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Home Depot stock at a 15% discount through payroll deductions
Retirement Plans
401(k) savings plan with company matching
Health & Wellness
Medical, dental, vision insurance plans and more
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and discounted tuition rates
Paid Time Off Benefits
Salaried associates are eligible for 2 weeks of vacation in their first year. FT hourly will be eligible for 40 hours of paid vacation time after 6 months of continuous service. For positions in Washington State, Spokane, and Tacoma only: Salary and Temporary associates will earn 1 hour of sick time for every 40 hours worked; FT associates will earn 1 hour of sick time for every 40 hours worked or 4 hours per month, whichever is greater. For positions in Seattle only: Salary and Temporary associates will earn 1 hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked; FT associates will earn 1 hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked or 4 hours per month, whichever is greater.
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