Mechanical Engineer V - Design

The company is an innovative defense, national security and space technology company committed to advancing and delivering transformative, mission-critical solutions. We tackle the most complex challenges to unlock new frontiers for human progress, fortify national security, and protect critical assets to lead in the race for technological and operational superiority from ground to space.

Forge the Future: Join the company Technologies

The future belongs to those who build it. At the company Technologies, we’re building technologies that protect lives, expand frontiers and prepare us for what’s next. And we’re doing that with people who are wired to solve, build, adapt and lead. These roles are not for the faint of heart.

You’ll help lay the foundation for humanity's future. Join a culture where innovation thrives, curiosity is rewarded, and impact is real. We’re a company of doers, thinkers and builders, united by purpose and grounded in reality.

If you want to put your skills to work where the stakes are real and the mission is bigger than any one person,  forge the future with the company.

Job Summary

Design

• Has expertise in complex design challenges, optimizing actuator performance, designing specialized igniters, designing pressure vessels, designing solid rocket motor systems, and leading the development of hot gas valve and rocket thruster designs.

• Can generate complex actuator designs, conduct thorough performance analysis, and implement innovative solutions.

• Has expertise in trade-off analysis, integrating multidisciplinary considerations, and providing comprehensive recommendations for design optimization and decision-making.

Drafting/Modelling

• Possesses exceptional skills in designing intricate 2D or 3D models, using advanced CAD commands, and generating technical drawings.

• Can interpret complex GD&T symbols, analyze engineering drawings, and provide guidance on dimensional and tolerance requirements.

• Can create intricate 3D models, use advanced features, and contribute to the development of solid modeling practices within the software.

Materials

• Possesses expertise in advanced ceramic properties, insulator material characterization, and advanced metal types.

• Can conduct detailed characterization, develop customized solutions, contribute to research and innovation, provide expert consultation, lead research projects, and optimize metal selection for challenging applications.

• Has expertise in refractory metal types, their properties, behavior at extreme temperatures, and processing techniques.

Communications

• Possesses exceptional skills in communication theories, presentation design, technical presentation, and writing specialized technical documents.

• Can provide expert guidance on complex communication challenges, develop compelling narratives, tailor content for specific audiences, and provide expert consultation on presentation strategies and audience engagement methods.

• Excels in writing technical documents with precision and accuracy.

Analysis

• Has expertise in complex simulation setups, analysis techniques, structural analysis, dynamic analysis, and thermal analysis.

• Can build complex simulations, validate models, and make informed engineering decisions.

• Can interpret and validate dynamic analysis results, optimize structural designs, and address thermal management challenges.

• Has expertise in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing principles, statistical tolerance analysis methods, and virtual inspection techniques.

Manufacturing

• Has expertise in complex additive manufacturing, mechanical assembly, composite layups, machining, molding and casting, advanced manufacturing planning techniques, and welding tasks.

• Can optimize designs, select materials and processes, and specify quality control checks including NDT methods.

• Can lead assembly teams, perform composite fabrication, set up and program machining equipment, and perform molding and casting tasks.

• Can provide expert consultation on manufacturing planning strategies and best practices.

Testing

• The individual can perform assembly tasks, follow instructions, and integrate components for testing including the handling of energetics.

• The individual understands test data collection principles and methods, perform data preprocessing, statistical analysis, and visualizations, set up and operate measurement instruments, perform calibrations, and acquire test data using standard techniques.

• The individual can develop test plans, identify objectives, define procedures, and create schedules for simple scenarios.

Systems Engineering

• Possesses advanced knowledge of mass estimation techniques, acquisition process, requirements analysis, prioritization, validation, and risk management.

• Can conduct detailed mass analyses for complex systems, identify critical areas for mass reduction, and propose optimization strategies.

• Can contribute to identifying potential risks, analyzing failure modes, and implementing reliability and safety measures. The individual is a recognized authority in the field.

Project Management

• Possesses basic financial knowledge, can lead small teams, understand operations research principles, understands complex procurement tasks, create simple proposals, and manage simple schedules.

• Can effectively communicate goals and expectations, develop procurement strategies, manage vendor evaluations, analyze supplier performance, and implement effective contract management practices.

Ballistics

• Understands advanced grain design methodologies, analyze burning characteristics, and optimize performance.

• Understands propellant chemistry, combustion principles, grain geometry, internal ballistics, and solid propellant manufacturing processes, including types, composition, combustion mechanisms, and grain performance factors.

System Performance

• Designs simple control systems using standard techniques, understand diagrams and specifications, and implement basic algorithms.

• Conducts requirements elicitation, prioritize stakeholder needs, and document requirements using standard templates.

• Understands solid rocket motor performance principles, including thrust, specific impulse, and propellant combustion.

Avionics

• Understands basic battery design principles, cable/wire harness design, circuit board design, rocket motor ignition systems, and software design principles, contributing to tasks under guidance.

• Identifies common components and connections and contributes to the generation of basic software designs while following standard specifications and guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

• Ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of mechanical engineering experience.

• Bachelor of Science required in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other relevant engineering discipline from an accredited university. May consider equivalent experience in lieu of degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Positive, cooperative, self-motivated, and professional behavior

• Contribute as necessary to get the job done

• Rocket motor design and testing experience

• Master of Science required in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other relevant engineering discipline from an accredited university. May consider equivalent experience in lieu of degree.

• Must be able to travel approximately 10% of the time.

Please click “Apply” to submit your application.

The company offers a comprehensive, total compensation package, which includes competitive salary, a discretionary annual bonus plan, paid time off (PTO), a comprehensive health benefit package, retirement savings, wellness program, and various other benefits. When you join our team, you’re not just an employee; you become part of a dynamic community dedicated to innovation and excellence.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.

California pay range

$130,000 — $200,000 USD

Nevada pay range

$130,000 — $200,000 USD