Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

This position leads the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced mechanical components and assemblies for Hera Technologies’ industry-leading thermal protection systems (TPS). The engineer will work hands-on with TPS soft goods, composites, and engineered surface finishes, supporting the full lifecycle from concept and design through prototyping, manufacturing, and production.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and manufacturing of mechanical components and assemblies for Hera’s industry-leading thermal protection systems (TPS), including softgoods, composites, and engineered surface finishes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement scalable manufacturing and assembly processes that ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance with aerospace and defense standards
• Create and maintain process documentation and controls to support consistent production outcomes and optimize throughput across design, prototyping, and manufacturing phases
• Utilize traditional and advanced manufacturing techniques for metallics, composites, and other materials used in thermal protection systems and critical aerospace structures, ensuring performance, durability, and production scalability
• Prototype and test advanced materials—including carbon fiber composites, high-temperature elastomers, and reinforced fabrics—iterating based on performance data and failure analysis
• Investigate material failures, process anomalies, and manufacturing defects by leading root cause analyses to implement corrective actions in both development and production phases

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience in advanced material applications
• 4+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience, with emphasis on metallic, composites and thermal protection systems (TPS)
• Proven leadership in engineering projects involving design, prototyping, and production of mechanical systems, including soft goods and polymer-based components
• Hands-on experience with advanced materials and mechanical components in aerospace or defense applications, including TPS and engineered surface finishes
• Strong understanding of elastomer and composite manufacturing processes, material properties, and relevant aerospace testing standards
• Proficient in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) with the ability to produce high-quality, production-ready engineering drawings
• Solid foundation in engineering principles including structures, materials science, thermal management, and mechanical system design
• Skilled in prototyping and fabrication techniques such as machining, composite layups, bonding and mechanical assembly
• Expertise in creating manufacturing and build plans/procedures for variety of customer products and assemblies with respect to industry standards or customer supplied specifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD/CAM tools, with experience using PLM systems to manage design and production workflows
• Strong knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5, with demonstrated ability to apply tolerancing principles in aerospace-grade engineering drawings
• Advanced design experience across CNC machining, composites, ceramics, sheet metal, and injection molding, including tooling and mold development for high-performance applications
• Demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal skills in cross-functional engineering environments, including collaboration with manufacturing, quality, and program teams
• Familiarity with qualification campaigns for aerospace and defense hardware, including ruggedized systems and TPS components
• Experience designing for harsh environments, ensuring durability, thermal resilience, and mechanical integrity under extreme conditions

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, dust, and temperature variations
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 35 lb and perform tasks involving standing, walking, bending, and manual assembly
• Visual acuity required for reading technical drawings, inspecting components, and operating precision instruments
• Occasional travel to customer or test sites, including outdoor or industrial settings, with adherence to company and OSHA safety protocols