Mechanical & Structural Engineer - Own the vehicle hardware, structures, and integration behind a next-generation interceptorEl Segundo, California | On-site
Opportunity SummaryThis role will own the mechanical architecture and structural integrity of a next-generation interceptor platform, taking vehicle hardware from early sizing and CAD through analysis, prototype builds, environmental testing, integration, and flight. The work spans primary and secondary structures, outer mold line implementation, mechanisms, subsystem packaging, launcher hardware, and ground support equipment. You will operate as a hands-on responsible engineer for major portions of the vehicle, balancing structural performance, manufacturability, cost, and speed. This is a broad vehicle engineering role for someone comfortable moving between CAD, FEA, machining, vendor coordination, assembly, test, and cross-functional integration.
About UsWe are a venture-backed defense technology company developing a new class of cost-effective interceptor systems designed for scalable production. The team is small, highly technical, and focused on moving quickly from design and prototype hardware into real-world test and flight demonstrations. Engineers work directly across propulsion, aerodynamics, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test with significant ownership over vehicle-level decisions.
Job Duties- Own major mechanical and structural subsystems of the interceptor from concept through flight
- Support overall vehicle sizing, structural architecture, and outer mold line implementation
- Design primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, brackets, interfaces, and integrated assemblies
- Develop and manage complex CAD models for the full vehicle and supporting hardware
- Perform structural analysis including static, dynamic, vibration, shock, buckling, and other relevant flight load cases
- Use hand calculations, FEA, and physical testing to efficiently size and validate structures
- Analyze aerodynamic, launch, maneuver, thermal, and vibration environments
- Define mechanical interfaces for propulsion, avionics, seekers, GNC, control actuation, and other vehicle subsystems
- Own packaging, routing, mounting, and structural integration across the vehicle
- Support actuator and control-surface integration including hinges, cutouts, interfaces, and sealing
- Design launcher hardware, handling fixtures, transport equipment, environmental enclosures, and other ground support systems
- Take parts from CAD through prototyping, fabrication, inspection, assembly, and test
- Support hands-on machining and rapid prototyping using internal or external manufacturing resources
- Select materials, processes, joining methods, and manufacturing approaches with performance, cost, and producibility in mind
- Work directly with suppliers, machine shops, and manufacturing partners to procure and troubleshoot hardware
- Lead or support vehicle integration, environmental testing, ground testing, and flight test campaigns
- Analyze test data, investigate anomalies, and incorporate findings into subsequent design iterations
- Produce and review detailed engineering drawings using GD&T and appropriate aerospace practices
- Make practical design decisions that balance technical requirements with unit cost and production scalability
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 5+ years of hands-on mechanical or structural design experience with aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or similarly demanding hardware
- Strong CAD proficiency with experience managing complex assemblies
- Strong structural intuition and understanding of how to select between hand calculations, FEA, and physical testing
- Experience with static, dynamic, vibration, or other structural analysis methods
- Experience designing hardware for high-load or mission-critical environments
- Strong understanding of metallic or composite structures, materials, and manufacturing processes
- Experience taking hardware from detailed design through fabrication, assembly, and test
- Proficiency with GD&T and tolerance analysis
- Strong understanding of design for manufacturability and producibility
- Hands-on fabrication, machining, or shop-floor experience
- Ability to work effectively across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test teams
- U.S. Person status required
Preferred Experience- Experience with missile, interceptor, rocket, UAV, launch vehicle, or other high-speed aerospace systems
- Experience with outer mold line design and aerodynamic packaging constraints
- Experience with launcher, canister, rail, or launch-tube hardware
- Experience designing ground support equipment and vehicle handling systems
- Experience with separation systems, control surfaces, actuators, or precision mechanisms
- Experience integrating propulsion cases, nozzles, avionics trays, harnesses, or seeker hardware
- Familiarity with NX, Teamcenter, or comparable CAD and PDM systems
- Experience with composite structures and manufacturing
- Familiarity with MIL-STD environmental, thermal, vibration, or shock testing
- Experience designing and building structural test fixtures or test rigs
- Experience managing external vendors, suppliers, and machine shops
- Background in motorsports, automotive, robotics, eVTOL, high-power rocketry, or another hands-on engineering environment
- Experience in a startup or rapid hardware development environment
Why Join Us- Own major portions of a flight vehicle from clean-sheet design through real-world testing
- Work across structures, mechanisms, vehicle integration, launcher hardware, and ground support equipment
- Operate as a true hardware generalist rather than being limited to a narrow subsystem
- Work directly alongside propulsion, aerodynamics, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test engineers
- Build hardware with both performance and scalable production in mind
- Take designs from CAD to the shop floor, test environment, and flight
- Join a small technical team where individual engineers have significant ownership and influence
Compensation Details$120,000 - $180,000
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