Senior Mechanical Design Engineer [Propulsion]

Odys Aviation•Long Beach, CA

13d

About The Position

Odys Aviation is seeking a senior level Mechanical Design Engineer to join our Propulsion Team. In this role, you will design, analyze, and integrate mechanical and thermal systems that support high-power hybrid-electric propulsion, including motors, generators, inverters, turbines and their supporting structures and cooling systems. You’ll work closely with electrical, manufacturing, test, and flight teams. This is a hands-on role with ownership of critical hardware, where you will play a key role as we mature our propulsion systems. Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Odys, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Requirements

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
Experience with high speed rotating machinery and associated challenges (ex. vibration, critical speed, dynamic balancing, bearings/seals)
5+ min years of experience in mechanical design of complex systems
Demonstrated experience owning and delivering on a critical assembly or subsystem with ownership from concept through build, test through production
Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX preferred) and creating production-quality drawings with GD&T
Strong understanding of tolerance stack-ups and real-world fit/integration challenges
Experience designing for a range of manufacturing processes (machining, sheet metal, additive, etc.)
Hands-on experience building, testing, and troubleshooting hardware
Comfortable working on electromechanical systems (motors, power electronics, rotating machinery, batteries, cooling systems, etc.)
Demonstrated ability to debug issues, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions
Experience working in fast-paced, iterative hardware development environments
Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and bias toward action
Clear communicator who collaborates effectively across multidisciplinary teams
Technical leadership experience (ex. leading design reviews, mentoring engineers, or setting technical standards for the team)

Nice To Haves

Experience with propulsion systems or electromechanical systems
Background in thermal management of high-power systems (liquid cooling, forced air, heat exchangers)
Experience with rotor dynamics or vibration analysis tools (e.g., modal analysis, critical-speed analysis)
Experience performing thermal and/or structural analysis (FEA, analytical modeling, or CFD)
Experience supporting prototype builds and early production environments
Familiarity with PLM systems (Teamcenter preferred)
Background in aerospace, automotive (EV/powertrain), robotics, or similar high-performance hardware industries

Responsibilities

Lead design and analysis of rotating machinery subsystems (turbines, motors, generators), addressing vibration, dynamic balancing, and bearing/seal challenges
Drive resolution of real hardware issues discovered during prototype and early production builds
Mentor and provide technical guidance to mid-level and junior engineers
Contribute to planning and technical strategy for the propulsion team, including design reviews and technical standards
Create and maintain 3D CAD models and 2D drawings, including GD&T and tolerance stackups
Perform DFM/DFA trade studies, balancing weight, cost, thermal performance, reliability, and manufacturability
Work with suppliers and internal teams to assess manufacturing feasibility, refine designs, and rapidly resolve build issues
Support hands-on prototype assembly, integration, and test, including debugging and root cause analysis
Conduct engineering analysis using a mix of hand calculations and FEA to inform design decisions
Implement and refine thermal management strategies (air and/or liquid cooling, heat sinks, TIMs, enclosures, insulation)
Translate test data and build feedback into actionable design improvements
Document designs, analyses, and design changes clearly to support team alignment and future production