Aerospace Mechanical Design Engineer

Smart Ports Group; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Universal Hydrogen in the Los Angeles area is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to develop a hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain for regional aircraft. You will create CAD parts, assemblies, and drawings and define layout inside the nacelle.

You will work with partners and suppliers, design jigs for tests, participate in system reviews, and apply Catia V5 and FEA. The role requires hands-on prototyping experience and the ability to communicate technical concepts in a fast-paced team.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise with CAD software (Catia V5 preferred).
• Working knowledge of mechanical design principles and analysis (FEA).
• Experience prototyping and manufacturing components (e.g. using a CNC machine, lathe, and/or 3D printer) is a plus.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and convey detailed technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Flexibility and responsiveness in a fast-paced, dynamic, small team environment.

Responsibilities

• Create CAD parts, assemblies, and drawings for our hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain and its associated subsystems.
• Define the layout and space allocation of the powertrain subsystems inside the aircraft nacelle.
• Design jigs and fixtures to support ground and flight tests and support their manufacturing.
• Engage with partners and suppliers on a regular basis to integrate their products into our digital mockups.
• Participate in system and hardware design and safety reviews.

Skills

Catia V5

FEA

Prototyping

Machining

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Tools

CNC machining

3D Printing

Job description

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our rapidly growing team developing a revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain for the world’s first zero-emissions regional airliner. You will play a key role in the integration of new technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells and high voltage MW size electric motors, for the first time in commercial aviation. You will be working within a tight-knit and multidisciplinary team to rapidly iterate the design and testing of this cutting-edge hydrogen powertrain for aircraft.

About the Role

Create CAD parts, assemblies, and drawings for our hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain and its associated subsystems.

Define the layout and space allocation of the powertrain subsystems inside the aircraft nacelle.

Design jigs and fixtures to support ground and flight tests and support their manufacturing.

Engage with partners and suppliers on a regular basis to integrate their products into our digital mockups.

Participate in system and hardware design and safety reviews.

About You

Demonstrated expertise with CAD software (Catia V5 preferred).

Working knowledge of mechanical design principles and analysis (FEA).

Experience prototyping and manufacturing components (e.g. using a CNC machine, lathe, and/or 3D printer) is a plus.

Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and convey detailed technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Flexibility and responsiveness in a fast-paced, dynamic, small team environment.

About Us

At Universal Hydrogen, our mission is to fuel carbon-free flight and reduce the climate impact of air travel. We are stitching together the end-to-end hydrogen value chain for aviation, both for hydrogen fuel and hydrogen-powered airplanes. We are building a transport and logistics network that moves hydrogen from production facilities to airports over the existing freight infrastructure, eliminating the need for costly new pipelines and storage facilities. Our system utilizes specialized capsules that safely store hydrogen during transit and act as modular fuel tanks that load directly onto aircraft. We are also developing powertrain conversion kits to retrofit existing airplanes and enable new airplanes to fly on hydrogen. Founded by former executives from Airbus, United Technologies, Google, and DARPA, and backed by investors such as Playground Global, Tencent, Toyota, GE, JetBlue, and Airbus, we are convinced that hydrogen is the best and only scalable solution to truly decarbonize aviation, and we want to bring it to market decades sooner—by 2025.

We strive for a workplace that is open, friendly, and fun, while valuing focus, urgency, camaraderie, and maverick behavior in accomplishing our mission. We recognize that people have a diverse set of preferences for work conditions and hours that optimize their overall productivity and wellness, and both our cloud-based IT setup and flexible work policy reflect this. However, because we are building physical products, most roles will require working at our facility at Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles or at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in Toulouse most of the time.

Our compensation and benefits package promotes transparency, equitability, and long-term employee well-being, while rewarding individual and team performance. This includes a significant variable pay component in the cash compensation, equity participation for all employees, 100% coverage of healthcare costs, and dog-friendly offices. As a young company, we are continually expanding our benefits, striving to provide our employees with the support they need to be their best both in and outside of the office. In the next few months, we are rolling out childcare support, catered meals, green mobility support, and private pilot (PPL) training—and we’re always open to feedback on what’s most important to you!

We know that no two candidates are the same, and we want to give you the opportunity to present yourself in the best way possible. Don’t hesitate to let us know how we can support a great recruitment process for you—whether that includes off-hours interview scheduling, captioning/transcription services, or other accommodations. We value diversity in all its forms, and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply, especially if you share in our mission to decarbonize air travel.

Please note that for the health and safety of our employees, we require all employees to provide proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations as recommended by the CDC (or a valid exemption).