Job Description
MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR TOP SECURITY CLEARANCE
About the Role
We're building next-generation defense systems designed to operate in the world's most demanding environments. As our Chief Mechanical Engineer, you'll lead the architecture, design, testing, and validation of mission-critical hardware that must perform flawlessly under extreme operational conditions.
This is a hands-on leadership role for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of advanced robotics, autonomy, and ruggedized defense systems. You'll own the mechanical engineering function, drive technical decision-making, and work closely with electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to bring cutting-edge products from concept to deployment.
What You'll Do
- Lead the design, development, and qualification of ruggedized mechanical and electromechanical systems for defense applications.
- Own the mechanical architecture of products from early concept through production and field deployment.
- Design systems to meet demanding military and operational requirements, including vibration, shock, thermal, ingress protection, and environmental survivability standards.
- Perform and oversee structural, thermal, vibration, modal, and finite element analyses to validate designs and guide engineering decisions.
- Drive mechanical integration across sensors, actuators, power systems, electronics, wiring harnesses, and embedded hardware.
- Develop comprehensive engineering documentation, including CAD models, drawings, specifications, test plans, analysis reports, and qualification procedures.
- Plan and execute environmental, reliability, and qualification testing to validate performance under real-world operating conditions.
- Lead prototype builds and rapid iteration cycles, working closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure scalable, cost-effective designs.
- Establish and enforce best practices in Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Reliability (DFR), and product lifecycle management.
- Identify technical risks early and lead cross-functional design reviews to ensure successful program execution.
- Build and mentor a high-performing mechanical engineering team as the company scales.
What You'll Bring
- A passion for building robust hardware systems that perform reliably in harsh and mission-critical environments.
- 9+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including significant experience developing complex electromechanical products.
- Previous experience in robotics, autonomous systems, robotic research laboratories, medical robotics, unmanned systems, or related advanced hardware domains.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- Strong R&D background with a track record of taking products from concept through validation and deployment.
- Expertise in structural, vibration, thermal, and modal analysis using tools such as ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation, or equivalent platforms.
- Advanced proficiency with modern CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, or CATIA.
- Deep understanding of environmental qualification requirements, including vibration, shock, thermal, humidity, and other military-grade durability standards.
- Experience integrating mechanical structures with electrical and electronic systems, including sensors, actuators, cabling, and embedded hardware.
- Strong understanding of FEA, modal analysis, thermal management, and reliability engineering.
- Proven ability to collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing disciplines.
- Experience applying DFM and DFR methodologies to complex hardware products.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience developing hardware for defense, aerospace, maritime, or other mission-critical industries.
- Experience qualifying products to MIL-STD-810 environmental test requirements.
- Familiarity with naval shock, EMI/EMC, and related military qualification standards.
- Experience designing systems for shock mitigation, vibration isolation, and structural survivability.
- Knowledge of thermal management, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer in tightly integrated electromechanical systems.
- Experience with rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, and accelerated hardware development cycles.
- Startup experience or a demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, resource-constrained engineering environments.
- Previous technical leadership experience managing projects, teams, or major hardware programs.
Why Join Us
You'll help build the next generation of autonomous defense technology alongside a small team of exceptional engineers. You'll have significant ownership, direct influence on product strategy and architecture, and the opportunity to solve some of the hardest engineering challenges in national security.