Mechanical Design Engineer

Wild West Systems, Inc.

Leander (TX)

On-site

USD 135,000 - 165,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance: 100% coverage for employees, 90% for spouse/family

Vision and Dental: 100% Coverage

Job summary

A defense technology startup in Leander, TX, is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to design, build, test, and ship mechanical systems. The role demands hands-on experience, responsibility for the entire product lifecycle, and the ability to tackle challenges in high-stakes situations. Candidates must have strong CAD and GD&T capabilities and be ready to take ownership of their designs. Competitive salary of $150,000 per year along with comprehensive health coverage is offered.

Qualifications

Proven, hands-on mechanical design experience is required.
Strong proficiency in CAD and GD&T is necessary.
Ability to thrive in high-stakes environments is expected.

Responsibilities

Design mechanical systems that survive real-world use.
Ensure the mechanical integrity and performance of designs.
Test components under real loads and fix failures.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical design experience

Strong CAD capability

GD&T capability

Ability to work independently

Resilience under pressure

Tools

Onshape

3D printer operation/maintenance

Job description

Overview

Wild West Systems is an American defense technology company with the mission to equip the civilized world with superior and affordable arms and advanced technologies - to dominate the battlefield of present and future threats, in a new era of asymmetrical warfare. We fuse versatile domain experience with novel approach and creativity to change the paradigm of defense - both for military arenas and civilian soft targets. We\'re an early stage startup, rapidly moving and growing.

General Qualifications (all Roles)

Deep love for America and passion for Wild West System\'s mission.
Self-starter, capable of performing tasks as an individual as well as working well in a team.
Servant-leader mentality, extreme ownership, willing to participate in different and rapidly changing projects in a dynamic environment. Bias for action.
ITAR REQUIREMENT: 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.

Position Overview

As a Mechanical Design Engineer, your job is to design, build, test, and ship mechanical systems that survive real-world use.

From early prototypes to scaled production, you own your parts end-to-end. If it breaks, you fix it. If it doesn\'t exist yet, you design it. If it works on paper but fails in the field, it\'s not done.

Extreme ownership is the baseline. You will be expected to work late hours and weekends if needed to accomplish the mission.

Your work directly arms the warfighter. That responsibility is non-negotiable. Real ownership, not task lists, Hardware that goes from bench to field fast, A team that values execution over ego, A mission that actually matters.

What You Own

The mechanical integrity, performance, and manufacturability of your designs
Components, mechanisms, and structures from concept → production
Iteration speed without sacrificing reliability or safety
Getting parts built, assembled, tested, and validated-no handoffs
If it touches metal, motion, load paths or force, you\'re accountable

What You Actually Do

Component & System Design

Design components with full lifecycle responsibility: calculations, tolerances, GD&T, drawings, and validation
Design in context-your parts must work with everyone else\'s, under real loads

Mechanisms

Design and integrate linkages, gears, motors, actuators, and assemblies that work under stress

Prototyping & Fabrication

Build fast using in-house tools or external vendors
Own the loop from CAD → part → install → revision

Testing & Validation

Test like it\'s going to the field-because it is
Measure performance, identify failure modes, and fix them
Paper success doesn\'t count. Field performance does

DFM & Scale

Design for manufacturability from day one
Work directly with manufacturing and machinists to ensure precision, repeatability, and scale

Procurement & Build Support

Source materials, components, and vendors to keep builds moving
Solve supply problems without waiting for permission

Ownership & Adaptability

Priorities shift. Problems emerge. You step in
No "that\'s not my job." Only "what needs to be done."

Documentation & Improvement

Document designs, tests, processes, and lessons learned so hardware can be built again
Raise the bar on safety, reliability, and speed every cycle

Required Skills And Experience

Proven, hands-on mechanical design experience
Strong CAD and GD&T capability
Ability to work independently in high-stakes, fast-moving environments
Bias for action, high accountability, and resilience under pressure

Preferred Skills And Experience

Weapons systems, UAVs, aerospace, or high-performance mechanisms
Designing hardware that survives testing not just reviews it
Additive manufacturing and 3D printer operation/maintenance
Designing for production-not just prototypes
Startup or small-team environments where impact is immediate
Onshape experience a plus; willingness to transition required

Work Location

This role is assigned onsite at our Leander, TX facility.

Benefits

We are always looking for good people! Wild West Systems is committed to providing its employees with competitive salaries and benefits in order to increase employee satisfaction and productivity.

Health Insurance:100% coverage for employees, 90% for spouse/family

Vision and Dental: 100% Coverage

Important Information

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.

As part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our Talent Team at Recruiting@wws.inc

This company uses E-Verify to confirm each employee\'s work authorization.