Senior Mechanical Engineer

wardstone.space•El Segundo, CA

22d

About The Position

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will own major structural and mechanical subsystems on an interceptor, such as airframe sections, internal structure, fin actuation, separation mechanisms, or the launcher interface. The engineer will take assigned subsystems from initial concept through analysis, fabrication, ground testing, and live flight. The vehicle must withstand extreme launch, aerodynamic, vibration, and thermal loads while meeting the volume and interface limits of existing launchers. The role reports to the Mechanical Engineering Lead and works alongside the founders and engineers in propulsion, aerodynamics, controls, and electrical engineering. The position offers substantial ownership, with designs intended to fly. The engineer will design and analyze subsystems, create production-ready CAD models and drawings, collaborate across engineering disciplines, select materials and manufacturing processes, and work with vendors and machine shops. They will also design test fixtures, conduct structural and environmental testing, build and modify hardware in the in-house shop, participate in design reviews, help establish team practices, and mentor junior engineers.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience designing flight or high-load hardware.
Experience owning at least one subsystem from design through test.
Strong CAD skills, including complex assemblies and drawings with GD&T.
Strong structural analysis skills, including hand calculations and FEA for static, dynamic, and vibration loads.
Experience selecting materials for high-stress aerospace applications.
Comfort working hands-on with hardware in a shop and test environment.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR: a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual.

Nice To Haves

Hardware experience on missiles, rockets, UAVs, or other high-speed aerospace vehicles.
Mechanism design experience, such as actuators, deployables, or separation systems.
Manual or CNC mill and lathe proficiency.
Experience with MIL-STD environmental testing, such as MIL-STD-810 thermal, vibration, or shock testing.
Experience designing and building structural test rigs.
Prior early-stage startup experience.

Responsibilities

Own the design of assigned structures and mechanisms from requirements through flight hardware.
Perform structural, vibration, shock, and thermal analyses, including hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA).
Produce production-ready CAD models and drawings with GD&T, following team standards.
Contribute to vehicle-level work, including outer mold line (OML) trades, loads analysis, and mass properties.
Collaborate with propulsion and aerodynamics teams on thermal loads, structural margins, and interfaces.
Work with electrical and controls teams to package, route, and mount avionics, harnesses, and actuators.
Select materials and processes for hardware, including composites, high-strength alloys, and high-temperature materials.
Work directly with vendors and machine shops to ensure parts are manufactured correctly and on time.
Design test fixtures and rigs, conduct structural and environmental tests, and use results to improve designs.
Build and modify hardware in the in-house shop.
Present work in design reviews and provide reviews of others’ work.
Help shape team practices and mentor junior engineers as the team grows.