Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Mechanisms (Aerospace Defense)

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States. The role requires eligibility to work with U.S.-controlled technology under ITAR and does not provide export-license sponsorship.

Salary: $140,000–$180,000 USD per year, plus performance incentives and equity.

Company

Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology startup developing autonomous defense platforms and scalable manufacturing capabilities.

What you will do

• Own mechanism development from CAD concepts and kinematic architecture through prototyping, testing, drawing release, and mass production.
• Design and analyze linkages, pivots, joints, bearings, shafts, gears, cams, latches, hinges, and deployable assemblies.
• Select actuators, motors, and drive systems based on torque, speed, positioning, and motion-profile requirements.
• Drive manufacturability, tolerance stack-ups, GD&T, part selection, fixtures, and tooling for scalable production.
• Use kinematic modeling, simulation, and FEA to evaluate performance and guide design trade-offs.
• Collaborate with mechanical, structures, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test engineering teams through development milestones.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience focused on designing and prototyping moving mechanism systems.
• Strong 3D CAD modeling, drafting, and GD&T skills, including ASME Y14.5.
• Strong understanding of kinematics, force and torque transmission, bearings, joints, fits, clearances, tolerance stack-ups, and structural load paths.
• Experience taking mechanisms from concept through detailed design, prototyping, functional testing, and iteration.
• Must be eligible to work with U.S.-controlled technology under ITAR or obtain the required U.S. government authorizations.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with aerospace vehicles, UAVs, robotics, deployable systems, flight controls, or other mass- and volume-constrained applications.
• Experience with reliability, life-cycle testing, environmental qualification, vibration, shock, temperature extremes, and electromechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuation.
• Programming or scripting experience with Python, MATLAB, C++, or equivalent engineering tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment focused on rapid innovation, advanced manufacturing, and national security.
• Healthcare, dental, vision, retirement savings, and paid time off.
• Performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and professional development.
• Occasional extended hours and weekends may be required to support critical development and test milestones.