MDAO Engineer

Mach Industries; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Equity options

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Mach Industries in Huntington Beach, CA is seeking an MDAO Engineer to develop models, software, and optimization workflows for rapid multidisciplinary vehicle design. You will connect aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and mission performance, and build reusable analysis tools used in design studies.

You will collaborate with Conceptual Design and Performance engineers to extend the tools, validate models, and apply new capabilities to real vehicle studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field.
• 2+ years of engineering experience in engineering software, computational design, MDAO, vehicle design, or optimization.
• Experience developing engineering models, analysis software, or optimization workflows for aerospace or complex systems.
• Working knowledge of aerospace vehicle design and interactions among aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, mass properties, controls, and mission performance.
• Familiarity with conceptual design, preliminary design, sizing, mission performance, or operational performance analysis.
• Software development skills in a scientific computing language and reusable engineering software practices.
• Experience verifying and validating engineering models and communicating their assumptions.
• Strong engineering judgment and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop reusable engineering models, software components, and workflows for vehicle analysis.
• Architect interfaces connecting aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and mission performance.
• Develop gradient-based optimization workflows with verified sensitivities.
• Maintain software practices: interfaces, version control, docs, tests, reproducibility.
• Create multi-fidelity analysis using high-fidelity sims, ground/flight data.
• Improve MDAO performance as models and users grow.
• Collaborate with design and performance engineers to set tool priorities.
• Apply capabilities to vehicle sizing, configuration trade, and mission analysis.
• Mentor engineers in models and workflows as experience grows.

Skills

Engineering software

MDAO workflows

Aerospace design

Conceptual design

Validation & verification

Scientific computing

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/related field

Job description

Huntington Beach, California, United States

About Mach Industries

Founded in 2023, Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. At the core of our mission is the commitment to delivering scalable, decentralized defense systems that enhance the strategic capabilities of the United States and its allies. With a workforce of approximately 350 employees, we operate with startup agility and ambition.

Our vision is to redefine the future of warfare through cutting-edge manufacturing, innovation at speed, and unwavering focus on national security. We are dedicated to solving the next generation of warfare with lethal systems that deter kinetic conflict and protect global security.

Role

Mach Industries is seeking an MDAO Engineer to develop the engineering models, software, and optimization workflows that enable rapid, rigorous vehicle design across Mach's product suite. You will help shape an expanding MDAO capability and build the tools that Conceptual Design and Operational Performance engineers use to evaluate vehicle concepts and make better design decisions.

This is a software and model development role grounded in aerospace engineering. You will create reusable multidisciplinary analysis capability, connect models across vehicle disciplines, and advance the optimization and automation methods that make design studies faster and more reliable. You will also work directly with the engineers using these tools, including applying new capabilities to real vehicle studies when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop reusable engineering models, software components, and computational workflows for multidisciplinary vehicle analysis and optimization.
• Architect and extend the computational architecture and interfaces that connect aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, mass properties, controls, mission performance, and parameterized geometry.
• Develop derivative-enabled models and workflows for efficient gradient-based optimization, including appropriate methods for computing and verifying sensitivities.
• Build and maintain practical software and model-development practices, including clear interfaces, version control, documentation, automated testing, reproducibility, and validation.
• Develop multi-fidelity analysis capabilities using higher-fidelity simulation, ground test, flight test, and operational data to improve model accuracy.
• Improve the performance, robustness, and usability of MDAO workflows as the number of models, users, and vehicle programs grows.
• Partner with conceptual design, configuration, and performance engineers to identify high-value development priorities and ensure the resulting tools support real design decisions.
• Apply and evaluate new capabilities through vehicle sizing, configuration trade, mission analysis, and performance studies as needed.
• Contribute to setting the technical direction for MDAO at Mach and, as experience grows, mentor engineers who contribute to or use its models and workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of relevant engineering experience in engineering software, computational design, MDAO, vehicle design, or optimization.
• Experience developing engineering models, analysis software, or optimization workflows for aerospace vehicles or other complex physical systems.
• Working knowledge of aerospace vehicle design and the interactions between aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, mass properties, controls, and mission performance.
• Familiarity with conceptual design, preliminary design, configuration and sizing, mission performance, or operational performance analysis.
• Software development skills in a scientific computing language, with the ability and interest to develop reliable, reusable engineering software and work within collaborative software development practices.
• Experience verifying and validating engineering models and communicating their assumptions and limitations.
• Strong engineering judgment and the ability to collaborate effectively across technical disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• Experience building or extending shared multidisciplinary analysis or optimization software.
• Experience with coupled, large-scale, or multi-fidelity engineering optimization.
• Experience with UAV, aircraft, missile, or defense product development.
• Experience incorporating test, flight, or operational data into engineering models.
• Experience with or strong exposure to gradient-based optimization, derivative computation, and numerical methods for engineering applications.
• Experience with surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, or sensitivity analysis.
• Experience establishing model validation, software development, or workflow standards for an engineering team.

MDAO engineers at Mach build the models, workflows, and development practices that make multidisciplinary vehicle design faster, more rigorous, and more scalable. You will contribute capability that gets used on real programs from the start, while developing the multidisciplinary perspective needed to take on increasingly complex models and workflows. Success is measured the same way here as across the organization: capability that engineers trust for real decisions and reuse from one vehicle to the next.

Additional Requirements

• Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

$115,000 - $150,000 USD

$155,000 - $195,000 USD

Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:

• Competitive Salaries: We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.
• Performance-Based Incentives: Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.
• Equity Participation: We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.
• Benefit Packages: Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office.
• Professional Development: We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
• Transparency: We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.

By joining Mach, you’re not just accepting a job—you’re becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.

This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.

Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach’s total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Mach is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.