Director of Mechanical Engineering

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States; on-site

Company

A manufacturing technology company developing proprietary software, automation, and advanced manufacturing systems for aerospace, defense, robotics, and other customers.

What you will do

• Build, lead, and scale a mechanical engineering team focused on equipment design, process improvement, and production-floor automation.
• Lead equipment design from requirements definition and budgeting through design milestones, testing, and final installation.
• Establish engineering standards covering design reviews, project milestones, and documentation.
• Set team priorities and performance expectations in alignment with company goals and production needs.
• Manage team and project budgets while balancing speed, cost, and long-term scalability.
• Mentor and develop engineers at all levels while promoting ownership, continuous learning, and technical excellence.

Requirements

• 10+ years of engineering experience designing and building products or equipment, including 3+ years in a leadership position.
• Strong experience in equipment, machinery, or systems design and development from concept and requirements through build, validation, and production deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements individually and across a team.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner with manufacturing, operations, and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to operate strategically and hands-on, including setting technical direction, participating in design reviews, and solving engineering problems.
• Comfort working in a fast-moving and changing environment, with motivation to mentor and develop mechanical engineers.

Nice to have

• Experience working in startups or small teams.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time, on-site work in Huntington Beach, California.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance and company-paid life insurance.
• Equity option grants and a 401(k) plan.
• Unlimited paid time off and nine company holidays.
• Employment is subject to ITAR requirements.