Job Title: Mechanical Engineer
Job Description
This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on the design and development of precision, machined components and assemblies that support cutting-edge space, aerospace, and avionics systems. You will work in a small, highly collaborative environment where you own the planning, execution, and delivery of projects rather than being compartmentalized. The position combines hands-on mechanical design, close collaboration with machine shops, and cross-functional project leadership to help ensure the total success of space missions across commercial, government, and defense markets.
Responsibilities
- Design mechanical components and assemblies using SolidWorks or other 3D CAD tools, ensuring robust, manufacturable designs for CNC machined parts.
- Create, review, and maintain detailed engineering drawings with proper GD&T and tolerancing to support high-precision manufacturing.
- Apply principles of Design for Manufacturability and design for machining to ensure parts can be produced efficiently and reliably by machine shops.
- Collaborate closely with internal and external machine shops, providing clear technical direction, resolving manufacturability issues, and supporting production of CNC machined components.
- Incorporate an understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) into the design process by working with analysts or using FEA results to improve mechanical robustness and performance.
- Participate in new product development and machine design activities for space, aerospace, avionics, and sensor systems, supporting both development and R&D programs.
- Lead or support project management activities for development and R&D projects, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating work across mechanical, software, firmware, and electrical engineering teams.
- Manage or contribute to the management of project budgets, schedules, and timelines for deliverables, helping to keep programs on track and within agreed constraints.
- Serve as a key technical point of contact for customers, supporting communication on requirements, design status, issues, and delivery milestones.
- Support compliance with aerospace and space industry standards, such as AS9100, as applicable to mechanical design and documentation practices.
- Contribute to the planning, execution, and delivery of projects associated with space programs, including systems used on lunar and Mars missions and other US space customer programs.
- Participate in continuous improvement of design processes, documentation standards, and collaboration methods to enhance quality and efficiency across programs.
Essential Skills
- 3–5 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer or Mechanical Design Engineer working on mechanical design and development.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software for mechanical design.
- Strong knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerancing practices for precision parts.
- Hands-on experience creating and interpreting detailed mechanical drawings for manufacturing.
- Experience working with machine shops and CNC machined parts, including design for machining and Design for Manufacturability.
- Understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) principles and how to use FEA results in design decisions, even if not performing FEA directly.
- Background in mechanical engineering and mechanical design for complex systems, ideally in space, aerospace, avionics, or related industries.
- Experience in new product development and machine design for development or R&D projects rather than only built-to-print or contract manufacturing.
- 3+ years of experience in project management, program management, or project engineering for development and R&D projects.
- Proven experience leading projects or programs with technical scope and collaborating closely with software, firmware, and electrical engineers.
- Direct experience managing project budgets, schedules, and timelines for deliverables, as well as handling customer communication throughout the project lifecycle.
- Familiarity with aerospace quality and process standards such as AS9100.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with space, aerospace, avionics systems, or defense aerospace programs.
- Exposure to or training in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools and workflows.
- Experience supporting or working on government space or defense programs is preferred.
- Background in project engineering or program management within space, commercial, or defense markets.
- Experience contributing to systems used on satellites, rockets, spacecraft, or related mission-critical equipment.
- Ability to work effectively in a small, cross-functional team environment and take ownership of projects from concept through delivery.
- Strong communication skills for interfacing with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external customers.
- Comfort working in an environment focused on mission success for high-visib