Environmental Qualification & Design Engineer

Zone 5 Technologies; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Zone 5 Technologies is seeking an Environmental Qualification & Design Engineer in San Luis Obispo, CA to lead environmental testing and design integration for counter-drone and missile systems for DoD programs.

The role requires MIL-STD-810, EMI/EMC expertise, and hands-on testing with test instrumentation and vibration/thermal equipment. A BS in mechanical/electrical engineering with 5+ years of aerospace/defense experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in aerospace/defense/high-reliability systems engineering.
• Hands-on MIL-STD-810 environmental testing experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, author, and execute detailed environmental test plans in compliance with MIL-STD-810 and related standards.
• Collaborate with design teams to integrate test-derived insights into hardware and packaging for reliability.
• Translate environmental needs into design guidelines and drive early-phase design reviews.
• Conduct and oversee testing across shocks, vibration, temperature, humidity, rain, and dust environments.
• Coordinate EMI/EMC testing with external labs and internal teams.
• Lead test setup planning including harnessing, fixturing, instrumentation, and data acquisition.
• Interface with third-party test houses to ensure test fidelity and setup integrity.
• Apply missile system knowledge to guide realistic test planning.

Skills

Environmental testing

MIL-STD-810

EMI/EMC

Test instrumentation

Missile systems

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Eng

Tools

DO-160

Vibration table

Thermal chamber

Data acquisition

EMI labs

Job description

Environmental Qualification & Design Engineer

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

At Zone 5 Technologies, we're redefining what's possible in precision weapons and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Our team of engineers and innovators are developing cutting‑edge autonomous solutions to deliver affordable and scalable precision weapons, interceptors, and UAS.

We're building the next generation of munitions and unmanned systems for the United States and its allies. If you're driven by hard problems, energized by rapid innovation, and ready to make an impact on defense technology, you belong here.

Zone 5 Technologies, LLC is seeking a highly skilledEnvironmental Qualification & Design Engineer to lead the environmental testing, validation, and design integration of advanced counter-drone drone and missile systems for U.S. Department of Defense programs. This role requires a deep understanding of MIL-STD-810, EMI/EMC, and missile systems—blending hands‑on test execution with early‑phase design input to ensure our platforms perform in the most demanding operational environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, author, and execute detailed environmental test plans in compliance with MIL-STD-810 and related military standards.
• Partner with design engineering teams to integrate test‑derived insights into hardware architecture, material selection, and packaging to improve reliability and survivability.
• Translate environmental qualification needs intodesign guidelines and drive early‑phase design reviews to ensure environmental readiness.
• Conduct and oversee testing across critical environments, includingshock, vibration, temperature, humidity, rain, and sand/dust.
• Coordinate and support EMI/EMC testing, including collaboration with external labs and internal electrical teams.
• Lead test setup planning, including harnessing, fixturing, instrumentation, and data acquisition strategies.
• Serve as primary technical interface for third‑party test houses—coordinating logistics, validating setup integrity, and ensuring test fidelity.
• Apply knowledge ofmissile systems and counter‑UAS platforms to guide realistic and mission‑relevant test planning.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in aerospace, defense, or high‑reliability systems engineering.
• Direct hands‑on expertise in MIL-STD-810 environmental testing, with working knowledge of DO-160 and/or related military/industry standards.
• Experience in identifying root cause failure and incorporating insights into early design phases to ensure success.
• Solid understanding of both mechanical and electrical systems, including familiarity with power/harnessing, enclosures, and electronics packaging under extreme conditions.
• Hands‑on experience with test instrumentation, vibration tables, thermal chambers, and data collection tools.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with internal engineering teams and external testing partners.
• Experience supporting or qualifying missile systems, guided munitions, or small aerial vehicles in DoD acquisition or RDT&E environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering - Master's preferred.

Level IV: $142,000 - $193,000/yr.

Level V: $171,000 - $230,000/yr.

Pay range for this role

$142,000 - $230,000 USD

What's in it for you:

• Comprehensive benefit package options include medical, dental, vision, life, and more.
• 401k with company‑match
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year
• 40 hours of sick time
• 12 annual company holidays

Why Join Zone 5 Technologies?

• Innovative Environment: Work on cutting‑edge technology that is shaping the future of defense and aerospace.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Career Growth: Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Zone 5 Technologies is a federal contractor and participates in E‑Verify to confirm employment eligibility. As required by law, we will verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees using the E‑Verify system. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities under E‑Verify: https://www.e‑verify.gov .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Zone 5 Technologies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.