Hands-On Mechanical Engineer – DoD R&D & Prototyping

TEXAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AUSTIN INC; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

TRI Austin, Inc. seeks a hands-on Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary R&D team in Austin, TX. The role focuses on mechanical design, prototype fabrication, testing, and technical capture activities for government research projects.

Ideal candidates have 3–7 years of hands-on experience in defense/aerospace hardware, familiarity with composite structures, and the ability to contribute to proposals and cost/schedule estimates. Security clearance capability is a plus.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 3–7 years hands-on experience developing and testing mechanical hardware for defense/aerospace or related demanding applications.
• Experience contributing to technical proposals, white papers, and DoD capture efforts a plus.
• Experience supporting DoD, US Navy, or other military programs.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to all phases of mechanical design from concept to prototype, including 3D CAD and drawings.
• Fabricate, assemble, and test prototypes; write test procedures and document results.
• Perform engineering analyses using FEA/CFD to support design decisions.
• Engage in composite work and translate materials behavior into robust designs.
• Support capture efforts with technical approaches, scopes of work, and cost/schedule inputs.
• Interface with vendors, subcontractors, and test resources under senior staff guidance.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Defense industry experience

Technical writing

Security clearance awareness

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace

Tools

3D CAD

FEA

CFD

Job description

TRI Austin, Inc. seeks a hands-on Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join a multidisciplinary R&D team in Austin, TX. The role focuses on mechanical design, prototype fabrication, testing, and technical capture activities for government research projects.

Ideal candidates have 3–7 years of hands-on experience in defense/aerospace hardware, familiarity with composite structures, and the ability to contribute to proposals and cost/schedule estimates. Security clearance capability is a plus.