Director of Mechanical Engineering

Oho Group; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Oho Group is seeking a Director of Mechanical Engineering in Los Angeles to build the mechanical function from the ground up. You will own the design and technical direction, define standards, and shape an ambitious aerospace/defense platform from day one.

You will lead a world-class team, drive mechanical architecture, and translate ambitious goals into manufacturable, high-performance hardware within a fast-moving startup environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience developing complex hardware systems (aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar)
• Experience leading or managing engineering teams
• Strong background in mechanical design, structural analysis, and product development
• Experience taking hardware from concept through prototyping to production

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of complex mechanical systems for a next-generation aerospace/defense platform
• Build and grow the mechanical engineering team, hiring and mentoring engineers
• Drive mechanical architecture, structural design, and thermal solutions from concept through prototyping and production
• Establish engineering processes, design reviews, and hardware development workflows
• Work closely with electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated hardware
• Guide the transition from early prototyping to scalable production

Skills

Mechanical design

Structural analysis

Product development

Team leadership

Hardware development

Startup environment

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Director of Mechanical Engineering ~ Los Angeles ~ Aerospace & Defense Startup

We’re partnered with a well-funded, early-stage A&D startup working on novel hardware for a next-generation defense platform.

They’re looking for a Director of Mechanical Engineering to build the mechanical engineering function from the ground up. You'll own design and technical direction in its entirety, with the freedom to define what good looks like within one of the fastest moving teams in LA.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the architecture of a new product from day one, build and lead a world-class team, and play a key role in bringing a highly innovative system from concept to reality.

The Role

As Director of Mechanical Engineering, you’ll lead the development of core mechanical systems while establishing the processes, team, and infrastructure needed to scale engineering. You’ll work closely with leadership and cross-functional teams to translate ambitious technical goals into manufacturable, high-performance hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of complex mechanical systems for a next-generation aerospace/defense platform
• Build and grow the mechanical engineering team, hiring and mentoring top-tier engineers
• Drive mechanical architecture, structural design, and thermal solutions from concept through prototyping and production
• Establish engineering processes, design reviews, and hardware development workflows
• Work closely with electrical, software, systems, and manufacturing teams to deliver integrated hardware
• Guide the transition from early prototyping to scalable production

Requirements

• BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 7+ years experience developing complex hardware systems (aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar)
• Prior experience leading or managing engineering teams
• Strong background in mechanical design, structural analysis, and product development
• Experience taking hardware from early concept through prototyping and into production
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment

Nice to Have

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or advanced hardware startups
• Background in high-performance systems, vehicles, or mission-critical hardware
• Experience building engineering teams from early stage

Why Join?

• Early leadership role in a highly ambitious aerospace/defense program
• Opportunity to shape both the product and the engineering organization
• Work on technology at the cutting edge of national security and aerospace innovation
• Competitive compensation + meaningful equity