Avionics Mechanical Engineer

Socket.dev; Mojave (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)

401(k) matching

Tuition reimbursement

Paid leave

Job summary

Stratolaunch in Mojave, CA is seeking a level II, Sr-, or Staff-level Mechanical Engineer to support the avionics packaging of air-launched hypersonic flight vehicles. The role involves designing electronic enclosures, creating 3D CAD models, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications include electronics/avionics packaging experience, basic structural/thermal analyses, and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Experience with electronics/avionics packaging required.
• Strong structural, heat transfer, and thermal hand calcs required.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work in small teams with multiple responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and work with a diverse team of mechanical, avionics, and manufacturing engineers.
• Perform requirements development or maturation for avionics systems and units.
• Design electronic enclosures for avionics components and create 3D CAD models.
• Perform structural, heat transfer and thermal hand calcs and basic analyses simulations.
• Create production drawings and work with machine shops to ensure manufacturability.
• Support manufacturing to ensure units are installed appropriately.
• Support test planning, failure analysis, and flight testing qualification.
• Develop and optimize packaging processes to improve yield and reliability.

Skills

Electronics packaging

Mechanical design

Avionics packaging

Thermal analysis

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter

SolidWorks

NX Simulation

JIRA

GIT

Job description

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a level II, Sr-, or Staff-level Mechanical Engineer to support the development and improvement of air-launched, hypersonic flight vehicle avionics systems and units. This position requires working within a multi-disciplined group of engineers to generate requirements, design, analyze, manufacture, test, and integrate avionics systems. An ideal candidate has significant electronics/avionics packaging and basic structural and thermal analyses experience.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to and work with a diverse team of mechanical, avionics, and manufacturing engineers
• Perform and/or support requirements development or maturation for avionics systems and units
• Design electronic enclosures for avionics components and create 3D CAD models
• Perform structural, heat transfer and thermal hand calcs and basic analyses simulations
• Create production drawings and work closely with machine shops and production teams to ensure designs are manufacturable
• Support manufacturing to ensure units installed appropriately
• Support test planning, perform failure analysis, and support hardware and software qualification and flight testing.
• Develop and optimize packaging processes to improve yield and reliability, setting process monitors and pass/fail metrics.
• Prepare content for, and present at, design and test readiness reviews
• Regular and comprehensive communication to program Avionics, Structures and Manufacturing Lead, as appropriate
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of, and experience with, one or more of these disciplines (in order of priority): electronics packaging, mechanical design, mechanical manufacturing, avionics manufacturing, and/or aircraft systems
• Significant experience with electronics/avionics packaging
• Experience performing fundamental structural, heat transfer, and thermal hand calcs and basic analyses
• Experience with metallic structures design, analysis, and manufacturing
• Experience with technical aerospace work, including working with vendors
• Experience with risk management and critical path workflow
• Experience working in small engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities
• Excellent written & verbal communication
• Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance
• Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting environmental test (Vibration, thermal, and shock) and resolving discrepancies.
• Experience with hands‑on fabrication in an aerospace environment
• Experience transitioning prototype programs into Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
• Experience with Design for Manufacturability & Assembly (DFMA) improvement effort
• Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development
• Experience with air-launched vehicle development
• Experience with composite structures design, analysis, and manufacturing
• Active S, TS, and/or SCI security clearance

Required Computer Skills:

• 3D CAD experience (Siemens NX and Teamcenter preferred, Solidworks)
• 3D Simulation experience (NX Design Simulation or Solidworks Simulation)
• MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)
• Configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA, etc.

Preferred Computer Skills:

• Experience with FEMAP, Nastran

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Level II: Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 2-5 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Sr-level: Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Staff-level: Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Position based in Mojave, CA.
• Position may require alternative shift work and/or weekend work.
• Travel, as needed, to support the department. Travel estimated to <5%

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s) :

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight‑seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf