Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Structures

Mach Industries
Huntington Beach, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to hands-on mechanical engineers with aerospace experience working in defense technology.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with aerospace or defense experience and a track record of leading hardware development from concept to production
    — “Own the mechanical design and development of system-level hardware, from early CAD concepts to functional prototypes, all the way through mass production.”
  • Individuals who have mentored engineers and shaped structural engineering practices in prior roles
    — “help establish structural engineering practices, mentor other engineers, and accelerate the development of hardware across the program.”
  • Engineers with strong CAD and GD&T skills who can translate technical requirements into production-ready designs
    — “Strong skills in 3D modeling with CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, etc.) including expertise in drafting and GD&T per ASME Y14.5.”

Things to consider

  • Must be eligible for ITAR compliance, which requires U.S. citizenship or specific residency status
    — “To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national...”
  • Role demands availability for extended hours and weekends during critical development phases
    — “Ability to support critical development and test milestones, including occasional extended hours and weekends as needed”

How to stand out

  • Emphasize experience with structural design optimization for lightweight and scalable production
    — “Apply mechanical fundamentals (structural, thermal, materials) and 1st order sizing to inform robust, lightweight designs.”
  • Highlight leadership in test planning and execution, especially at subscale or coupon levels
    — “Lead hands-on testing, from vehicle level qualification and design validation to subscale and coupon based testing leading to design iteration.”
  • Showcase ability to integrate mechanical systems with sensors, actuators, and embedded control hardware
    — “Experience integrating mechanical systems with sensors, actuators, and embedded control hardware.”
  • Demonstrate expertise in authoring technical documentation and engineering milestones
    — “Author test plans, technical documentation, and engineering milestones for cross team and leadership review.”
  • Include experience with analytical modeling and simulation tools like FEA or multi-physics software
    — “Perform analytical modeling and simulation (FEA) to evaluate mechanical system performance...”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • designed and tested mechanical systems
  • led structural engineering efforts
  • optimized for manufacturing
Typical background
mechanical engineeringaerospace engineeringelectromechanical systems

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical DesignStructural EngineeringCAD ModelingGD&TFEAManufacturing

Preferred

Aerospace Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Mach Industries via Greenhouse

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

The Role

Mach Industries is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, analysis, test, and verification of mechanical and electromechanical systems for next-generation defense platforms. In this hands-on role, you’ll own structural engineering efforts from requirements derivation to conceptual design to production including analysis, fabrication, testing, and validation while optimizing for manufacturing, assembly, mass, cost and cross discipline requirements.

You will work alongside multi-disciplinary teams to drive technical decisions, resolve complex integration challenges, and ensure structural designs are supported by test and analysis. You will own assembly and product level data packages including engineering drawings, GD&T, and analysis/test output. You will contribute throughout the entire hardware development cycle to ensure a successful product development. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys solving challenging mechanical problems, working with real hardware, and rapidly iterating on designs.

You will also help establish structural engineering practices, mentor other engineers, and accelerate the development of hardware across the program.

Key Responsibilities

Own the mechanical design and development of system-level hardware, from early CAD concepts to functional prototypes, all the way through mass production.

Lead hands-on testing, from vehicle level qualification and design validation to subscale and coupon based testing leading to design iteration.

Drive manufacturability, part selection, and tolerance stack-up decisions (GD&T) for scalable production.

Apply mechanical fundamentals (structural, thermal, materials) and 1st order sizing to inform robust, lightweight designs.

Design fixtures and tooling to manufacture, assembly, inspect, qualify, and test aerospace assemblies

Author test plans, technical documentation, and engineering milestones for cross team and leadership review.

Perform analytical modeling and simulation (FEA) to evaluate mechanical system performance, guide design decisions, and inform trade studies.

Ability to support critical development and test milestones, including occasional extended hours and weekends as needed

Required Qualifications 

5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on designing and prototyping mechanical systems

Strong skills in 3D modeling with CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, etc.) including expertise in drafting and GD&T per ASME Y14.5

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Ownership of hands-on, end-to-end hardware development efforts for Flight or Production hardware

Experience integrating mechanical systems with sensors, actuators, and embedded control hardware.

Preferred Qualifications 

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

Experiencing designing with lightweight materials, composites, or additive manufacturing techniques

Experience with configuration management and change management best practices for aerospace systems

Experience with sizing of structure through 1st order hand calculations or FEA (Nastran) or multi-physics software packages

Experience supporting test at coupon, subscale, or assembly level for both development and qualification campaigns

Experience designing for cross discipline impact including aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, or thermal management

Experience with programming languages (e.g. python, MATLAB, C++) for analytical modeling, simulation and engineering problem-solving.

Additional Requirements

Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

Engineer$140,000—$180,000 USDAt Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends.

Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:

Competitive Salaries: We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.

Performance-Based Incentives: Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.

Equity Participation: We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.

Benefit Packages: Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office.

Professional Development: We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.

Transparency: We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.

By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.

Data Privacy

To view Mach Industries candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://machindustries.com/privacy-policy.

Disclosures

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. If you’d like to defend the American way of life, please reach out!

Source: Mach Industries careers (Greenhouse)

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