Mechanical & Structural Engineer

Mechanical & Structural Engineer - Own the vehicle hardware, structures, and integration behind a next-generation interceptor El Segundo, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary This 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 Us We 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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