Principal Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace & Defense)

TL;DR

Principal Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace & Defense): Own and lead mechanical integration of ruggedized electronics, effectors, and mission hardware into ground- and sea-mobile platforms with an accent on structures, enclosures, and mechanisms under shock, vibration, and environmental constraints. Focus on architecting CAD models, performing structural/thermal analyses, leading qualification testing, and resolving cross-disciplinary integration challenges.

Location: On-site in Hawthorne, California, United States. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance required.

Salary: $175k-215k

Company

hirify.global builds advanced sensing and detection solutions powered by Coherent Distributed Networks for defense, air operations, and border protection.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership for hands-on prototyping and mechanical integration of electronics, enclosures, effectors, and mechanisms into mobile platforms
• Architect and design structures, frames, mounts, enclosures, and mechanisms compliant with shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental standards
• Develop 3D CAD models, assemblies, and ICDs for multi-disciplinary system integration
• Perform structural and thermal analyses, allocate requirements, and ensure compliance with military standards
• Lead system integration, qualification testing, installation, and acceptance activities
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and partners; conduct make/buy assessments and support production sustainment

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• 8+ years in platform-level mechanical design and system integration for aerospace/defense
• Proven experience integrating subsystems into vehicles or mobile platforms
• Strong proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) for large assemblies and top-down design
• Solid understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, and ICDs
• Familiarity with structural analysis (hand calcs, FEA), ruggedized hardware, and MIL-STD-810
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. security clearance
• Strong communication skills for multi-project environments

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Experience as mechanical technical authority on programs
• Mechanisms and actuation systems (linkages, bearings, motors, hydraulics)
• FEA/multiphysics simulation (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS)
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, prototyping, additive manufacturing, CNC
• Familiarity with military connectors (MIL-C-38999, ARINC)

Culture & Benefits

• Health benefits: Medical, dental, vision 100% company-paid; 401k with 50% match up to 6% of pay, FSA, HSA, life insurance
• Perks: Free daily lunch, no-meeting Fridays, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation: Competitive base, pre-IPO stock options, relocation assistance, annual bonuses (coming soon)
• Team: 200 employees across 5 global offices