Mechanical Engineer - Point Mugu, CA

F3EA Inc

1d•Onsite

About The Position

F3EA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the design, development, prototyping, integration, and testing of Blue Water Instrumentation (BWI) capabilities at the Point Mugu Sea Range. This role is directly aligned with advancing Over-the-Horizon maritime instrumentation, telemetry relay systems, command-and-control experimentation, and range safety capabilities in support of Department of Defense test and evaluation missions. The Mechanical Engineer will operate in a hands-on R&D environment, contributing to the rapid development and fielding of prototype systems across maritime, littoral, and expeditionary test environments. This position requires an engineer who is comfortable moving from concept to fielded prototype—designing, building, integrating, and iterating in real-world conditions. THIS POSITION IS NOT A TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION ENGINEERING ROLE. IT IS FOCUSED ON RAPID R&D, EXPERIMENTATION, AND FIELD INTEGRATION, WHERE SPEED, ADAPTABILITY, AND HANDS-ON EXECUTION ARE CRITICAL TO MISSION SUCCESS.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
5 years’ experience in mechanical design, prototyping, and system integration
Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, AutoCAD, or similar)
Experience working in laboratory, test, or field environments
Ability to support hands-on fabrication, assembly, and troubleshooting
Understanding of mechanical systems exposed to maritime or outdoor environments
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a rapid, iterative development environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
U.S. citizenship required
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance (Secret or higher)

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting DoD test ranges, RDT&E programs, or warfare centers
Background in maritime systems, unmanned systems, or instrumentation platforms
Experience with environmental hardening (corrosion, sealing, shock/vibration)
Familiarity with additive manufacturing, machining, or fabrication processes
Experience supporting prototype development from concept through field demonstration
Knowledge of telemetry systems, sensor integration, or payload design
Experience supporting test and evaluation (T&E) events
Prior military or defense contractor experience

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and prototype mechanical systems and structures supporting maritime instrumentation and test range capabilities
Support rapid prototyping efforts, including fabrication, assembly, and modification of developmental systems
Develop mechanical solutions for sensor integration, payload mounting, enclosures, thermal management, and environmental protection
Conduct mechanical analysis (stress, vibration, thermal, corrosion) to ensure system performance in maritime and harsh environments
Support integration of mechanical components with electrical, RF, and software systems within multi-disciplinary prototypes
Assist in testbed outfitting, including installation and integration of prototype systems on platforms, fixtures, and range infrastructure
Participate in field testing and experimentation, including setup, execution, troubleshooting, and teardown of test events
Develop and maintain technical drawings, CAD models, and engineering documentation
Support installation, integration, and checkout (I&I) of developmental articles in laboratory and field environments
Troubleshoot mechanical and system-level issues during test events and prototyping cycles
Collaborate with systems engineers and program leadership on requirements development, design trade-offs, and system integration strategies
Ensure compliance with safety, range, and environmental requirements, particularly in maritime operating environments
Support logistics and property accountability efforts as required for prototype systems and equipment