Soft Structures Engineer

Mach Industries•Huntington Beach, CA

About The Position

Mach is building the next generation of autonomous defense systems—designed, manufactured, and deployed at speed. Our team operates at the intersection of hardware, software, and mission execution to deliver scalable, decentralized capabilities that deter conflict and strengthen allied advantage. We are seeking an Soft Structures Engineer to lead the design, analysis, and development of our lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms. This role sits at the core of our vehicle architecture—owning the structural, material, and pressure-driven behavior of balloon-based systems from concept through flight. You will work hands-on with soft materials, high-performance fabrics, and pressurized systems, translating first-principles physics into manufacturable, flight-ready hardware.

Requirements

Experience with soft goods / flexible structures (e.g., fabrics, membranes, composites, inflatables, parachutes, sails, balloons, etc.)
1+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on designing and prototyping mechanical systems (can be in a professional, hobby or academic setting)
Strong skills in 3D modeling and CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, etc.) for mechanical design and iteration.
Experience with programming languages (e.g. python, MATLAB, C++) for analytical modeling, simulation and engineering problem-solving.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience owning hands-on, end-to-end hardware development efforts (e.g., FSAE, DBF, Rocket Team, or similar projects).

Nice To Haves

Background in high-altitude or atmospheric systems.
Familiarity with textile engineering, coatings, or permeability/diffusion modeling.
Experience designing for extreme environments (thermal, UV, pressure cycling).
Knowledge of seaming, bonding, and joining techniques (RF welding, heat sealing, adhesives, stitching) and their structural implications.
Experience modeling or testing membrane structures under load, including wrinkling, creep, and long-term deformation
Familiarity with coatings and barrier layers, including permeability, gas retention, and environmental degradation (UV, moisture, temperature cycling)

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end design of balloon envelopes, including geometry, material selection, and structural architecture.
Perform detailed analysis of pressurized and unpressurized systems, including stress, creep, fatigue, and failure modes.
Design for manufacturability, including seaming, patterning, joining methods, and production constraints.
Develop and execute test campaigns (ground + flight) to validate models and iterate rapidly.
Work cross-functionally with mechanical and manufacturing teams to integrate envelope systems into full vehicles.
Build internal tools and frameworks for simulation, sizing, and performance prediction.
Drive rapid iteration cycles from prototype to deployment in a fast-paced environment.