Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineer

Canopy A&D • Cape Canaveral, FL

79d • $80,000 - $140,000

About The Position

This position leads the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced mechanical components and assemblies for Hera Technologies’ industry-leading thermal protection systems (TPS). The engineer will work hands-on with TPS soft goods, composites, and engineered surface finishes, supporting the full lifecycle from concept and design through prototyping, manufacturing, and production. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability, performance optimization, and compliance with aerospace and defense standards. Ideal candidates bring a strong foundation in mechanical design and manufacturing, with practical experience in advanced materials and ruggedized hardware applications.

Requirements

• 4+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience, with emphasis on metallic, composites and thermal protection systems (TPS).
• Proven leadership in engineering projects involving design, prototyping, and production of mechanical systems, including soft goods and polymer-based components.
• Hands-on experience with advanced materials and mechanical components in aerospace or defense applications, including TPS and engineered surface finishes.
• Strong understanding of elastomer and composite manufacturing processes, material properties, and relevant aerospace testing standards.
• Proficient in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) with the ability to produce high-quality, production-ready engineering drawings.
• Solid foundation in engineering principles including structures, materials science, thermal management, and mechanical system design.
• Skilled in prototyping and fabrication techniques such as machining, composite layups, bonding and mechanical assembly.
• Expertise in creating manufacturing and build plans/procedures for variety of customer products and assemblies with respect to industry standards or customer supplied specifications.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience in advanced material applications.

Nice To Haves

• Proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD/CAM tools, with experience using PLM systems to manage design and production workflows.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5, with demonstrated ability to apply tolerancing principles in aerospace-grade engineering drawings.
• Advanced design experience across CNC machining, composites, ceramics, sheet metal, and injection molding, including tooling and mold development for high-performance applications.
• Demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal skills in cross-functional engineering environments, including collaboration with manufacturing, quality, and program teams.
• Familiarity with qualification campaigns for aerospace and defense hardware, including ruggedized systems and TPS components.
• Experience designing for harsh environments, ensuring durability, thermal resilience, and mechanical integrity under extreme conditions.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher), or the ability to obtain one based on eligibility.
• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience in advanced material applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and manufacturing of mechanical components and assemblies for Hera’s industry-leading thermal protection systems (TPS), including softgoods, composites, and engineered surface finishes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement scalable manufacturing and assembly processes that ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance with aerospace and defense standards.
• Create and maintain process documentation and controls to support consistent production outcomes and optimize throughput across design, prototyping, and manufacturing phases.
• Utilize traditional and advanced manufacturing techniques for metallics, composites, and other materials used in thermal protection systems and critical aerospace structures, ensuring performance, durability, and production scalability.
• Prototype and test advanced materials—including carbon fiber composites, high-temperature elastomers, and reinforced fabrics—iterating based on performance data and failure analysis.
• Investigate material failures, process anomalies, and manufacturing defects by leading root cause analyses to implement corrective actions in both development and production phases.

Benefits

• Company paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance
• Retirement plan participation (eligibility required)
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Vacation
• Paid holidays
• Discretionary bonuses
• Incentivized cash-based employee referral program for non-management employees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree