An electromechanical solenoid has a solenoid assembly including a solenoid coil with a coil aperture formed therein. A pole piece assembly is positioned at least partially within the coil aperture, the pole piece assembly including a first pole piece and a second pole piece positioned at least partially within an hour-glass shaped alignment member. The first pole piece has a first bore and a first outer tapered surface extending away from the first bore, and the second pole piece has a second bore and a second outer tapered surface extending away from the second bore. An armature is moveable within the first bore and the second bore in response to a magnetic field produced by the solenoid coil.