Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Structures

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Structures | Take Ground Launcher Hardware from Prototype to ProductionGardena, CA | On-siteA Series A, venture-backed defense company building low-cost air defense systems is growing its ground systems design team. This engineer will own the mechanical design of large structural hardware for vehicle-mounted launcher systems, turning working prototypes into production-ready designs built for medium-rate manufacturing.Expect a mix of sheet metal, machined parts, weldments and actuated mechanisms that must hold up to weather, corrosion, shock and vibration. You will design with production in mind from day one, check your own designs with hand calcs and FEA, plan and support qualification testing, and work with a high degree of autonomy.

The design group is small today, so this hire will help set design standards and mentor engineers as the team grows.We are a Series A, venture-backed defense technology company in the Los Angeles area building affordable air defense systems designed for high-volume production. Our team includes engineers and operators from leading commercial space, defense technology and electric vehicle companies, and we design and build our subsystems in house so we can iterate and test quickly. Our focus now is taking proven prototypes into production at a scale traditional defense supply chains struggle to reach.Job DutiesOwn mechanical design of structural assemblies for ground launcher systems, from preliminary concepts through production releaseMature existing prototypes into production variants, iterating quickly through build and testDesign sheet metal, stamped, machined and welded components and actuated mechanisms with long-term high-volume manufacturing in mindBuild special process considerations such as welding, coatings and corrosion protection into designsPerform first-pass structural analysis and FEA to validate designs, partnering with dedicated analysts on detailed workDefine and support environmental and qualification testing, including shock, vibration and corrosionProduce detailed 3D models and engineering drawings with clear GD&TWork closely with manufacturing engineering on DFM, DFA and process selectionHelp establish PDM, revision control and design review practices for the teamMentor engineers and provide technical leadership as the design group expandsQualificationsBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field7+ years of mechanical design experience on structural hardwareDeep experience designing sheet metal, machined and welded parts and assembliesExpert-level 3D CAD, engineering drawing and GD&T skillsExperience designing hardware for production, including DFM for sheet metal and weldmentsWorking knowledge of structural analysis and FEA sufficient to validate your own designsExperience planning or supporting environmental testing such as shock, vibration and corrosionAbility to lead technical work independently with minimal oversightU.S.

person as defined by ITARPreferred ExperienceBackground in aerospace structures, launch vehicle mechanisms, defense ground systems, automotive or large tooling designExperience with actuation, gimbals, deployable structures or landing mechanismsDesigning for harsh environments and military standards such as MIL-STD-810Setting up or enforcing PDM and revision control systemsMoving products from prototype into medium or high-rate productionMentoring or leading other design engineersWhy Join UsSenior technical role on a small ground systems team with a direct path to design leadershipShape production designs for hardware that will be fielded at scaleHands-on work spanning design, analysis and test, with a fast build and test cadenceWell-funded Series A company with strong demandCollaborative team from leading space, defense technology and EV companiesCompetitive salary with meaningful early-stage equityCompensation Details$150,000 - $200,000 + equityITAR RequirementThis position requires access to technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons as defined by 22 CFR 120.62.