Mechanical Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a Mid-Career Mechanical Engineer to support the design, build, and test of next-generation aircraft aerostructures, including fuselage, empennage, control surfaces, and landing gear systems. This role is hands-on and execution-oriented, with responsibility for taking hardware from concept through detailed design, fabrication support, and test validation.

Responsibilities

• Own R&D-focused structural design and development supporting vehicle subsystems such as hydraulics, fuel systems, propulsion, and avionics, with an emphasis on rapid prototyping and iteration
• Perform first-principles structural and thermal analyses using hand calculations and FEA to inform early design decisions and experimental validation
• Execute trade studies across mechanical, fluid, and avionics subsystems focused on performance, mass efficiency, and technical risk reduction
• Design, build, and test prototype hardware, owning development from concept through fabrication, integration, and experimental validation
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing and test teams to transition prototype concepts toward scalable, production-aware designs
• Support hands-on integration, troubleshooting, and test campaigns to quickly iterate and mature hardware
• Present technical findings in internal design reviews and contribute to cross-functional and supplier/customer technical discussions

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or physics
• 2+ years of experience in mechanical design, analysis, and experimental testing (internships and significant student project experience qualify), preferably in an R&D or prototype environment

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong hands-on experience with rapid prototyping, hardware build, and mechanical assembly of complex systems
• Solid foundation in engineering fundamentals including statics, dynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and vibration
• Proficiency in CAD (NX preferred), FEA (Ansys preferred), and PLM tools (Teamcenter preferred)
• Experience designing and testing hardware in early development environments, with awareness of design-for-manufacturing and production considerations
• Familiarity with mechanical testing under vibration, fatigue, shock, vacuum, and thermal loads
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines (fluids, avionics, manufacturing) to deliver integrated experimental systems
• Proven ownership of technically complex projects from concept through test and iteration

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insurance
• Financial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonuses
• Time Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employees
• Office Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakrooms

Salary Range

The salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.