Soft Structures Engineer

About the role

Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. The Soft Structures Engineer role involves leading the design, analysis, and development of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms, working at the intersection of hardware, software, and mission execution.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design of balloon envelopes, including geometry, material selection, and structural architecture.
• Perform detailed analysis of pressurized and unpressurized systems, including stress, creep, fatigue, and failure modes.
• Design for manufacturability, including seaming, patterning, joining methods, and production constraints.
• Develop and execute test campaigns (ground + flight) to validate models and iterate rapidly.
• Work cross-functionally with mechanical and manufacturing teams to integrate envelope systems into full vehicles.
• Build internal tools and frameworks for simulation, sizing, and performance prediction.
• Drive rapid iteration cycles from prototype to deployment in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

• Experience with soft goods / flexible structures (e.g., fabrics, membranes, composites, inflatables, parachutes, sails, balloons, etc.).
• 1+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on designing and prototyping mechanical systems (can be in a professional, hobby or academic setting).
• Strong skills in 3D modeling and CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, etc.) for mechanical design and iteration.
• Experience with programming languages (e.g. python, MATLAB, C++) for analytical modeling, simulation and engineering problem-solving.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience owning hands-on, end-to-end hardware development efforts (e.g., FSAE, DBF, Rocket Team, or similar projects).

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in high-altitude or atmospheric systems.
• Familiarity with textile engineering, coatings, or permeability/diffusion modeling.
• Experience designing for extreme environments (thermal, UV, pressure cycling).
• Knowledge of seaming, bonding, and joining techniques (RF welding, heat sealing, adhesives, stitching) and their structural implications.
• Experience modeling or testing membrane structures under load, including wrinkling, creep, and long-term deformation.
• Familiarity with coatings and barrier layers, including permeability, gas retention, and environmental degradation (UV, moisture, temperature cycling).