Principal Mechanical Engineer

TL;DR

Principal Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace/Defense): Lead the mechanical design, integration, and qualification of ruggedized electronic hardware and enclosures with an accent on chassis, card-level packaging, thermal solutions, and cross-disciplinary technical resolution. Focus on developing production-ready 3D CAD models, assemblies, drawings, performing structural and thermal analyses, and ensuring compliance with military standards.

Location: On-site in Hawthorne, California, United States

Salary: $170k-240k

Company

hirify.global redefines modern defense with Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™) empowering warfighters, air operators, and border teams; founded in 2022 with $1B funding and 250 employees across global offices.

What you will do

• Lead design and development of ruggedized electronic hardware, enclosures, chassis, mounting features, and thermal solutions per program requirements.
• Own mechanical design for subsystems or product areas, aligning with system-level requirements.
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, detailed drawings, and interface control documentation (ICDs).
• Perform structural and thermal analyses to verify compliance with environmental standards.
• Drive cross-disciplinary resolution with mechanical, electrical, RF, power, and systems teams.
• Interface with suppliers, perform make/buy assessments, and support production transition and sustainment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related
• 10+ years in mechanical design/integration of electronic hardware for aerospace/defense
• Strong proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) and production-ready drawings
• Expertise in mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, GD&T, alignment, and ICDs
• Familiarity with military/aerospace connectors (e.g., MIL-DTL-38999) and standards like MIL-STD-810
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
• Strong communication skills for fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environments

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Prior lead mechanical engineer experience on programs
• System-level requirements allocation and trade studies
• Environmental qualification testing (thermal, vibration, shock)
• FEA/multiphysics tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, etc.)
• Cable harness routing and electromechanical integration

Culture & Benefits

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