Mechanical Engineer, Structures (Aerospace & Defense)

TL;DR

Mechanical Engineer, Structures (Aerospace & Defense): Designing and integrating ruggedized mechanical structures, enclosures, mechanisms, and mission systems for ground- and sea-mobile defense platforms with an accent on structural integrity, environmental qualification, and system-level integration. Focus on solving complex shock, vibration, thermal, alignment, and cross-disciplinary integration challenges across the full product lifecycle.

Location: Full-time onsite position in El Segundo, California, United States. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required.

Salary: $110,000–$138,000 base compensation, excluding bonus, equity, and benefits.

Company

Develops advanced sensing and detection solutions for defense, aerospace, commercial aviation, and border protection applications.

What you will do

• Lead hands-on mechanical integration of electronics, enclosures, effectors, launchers, mechanisms, and support equipment into ground- and sea-mobile platforms.
• Architect and design structures, frames, mounts, enclosures, and mechanisms for shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental constraints.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, large assemblies, and interface control documentation for multidisciplinary integration.
• Perform first-order structural and thermal analyses, requirements allocation, qualification, and acceptance activities.
• Coordinate installation, alignment, fit checks, production transition, configuration control, and sustainment investigations.
• Act as a technical hardware interface for customers, platform providers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners, including make-or-buy assessments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in platform-level mechanical design and system integration for aerospace and defense applications.
• Experience integrating mechanical subsystems and mission systems into vehicles, mobile platforms, or fixed installations.
• Strong proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks for large assemblies and top-down design.
• Knowledge of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, installation practices, interface control documents, hand calculations, and FEA.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience with mechanisms, actuation systems, vehicle integration, requirements allocation, and military qualification standards.
• Experience with NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD, COMSOL, or similar simulation tools.
• Knowledge of manufacturing, assembly, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, and prototyping techniques.
• Familiarity with military-style connectors, including MIL-DTL-38999, ARINC, and micro-D.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits fully paid by the company.
• 401(k) with a 50% company match up to 6% of pay, plus FSA, HSA, and life insurance.
• Unlimited PTO, free daily lunch, casual dress code, and no-meeting Fridays.
• Pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and planned annual bonuses.