Mechanical engineer

Wild West Systems, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wild West Systems in Leander, TX onsite is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to design, build, test, and ship mechanical systems that endure real-world use in defense technology. You own your parts from concept to production, and you’ll push designs from bench to field with extreme ownership.

You will work onsite at our Leander, TX facility, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability, reliability, and rapid iteration.

Qualifications

• Strong CAD and GD&T capability.
• Able to work independently in high-stakes, fast-moving environments.
• Bias for action, high accountability, and resilience under pressure.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Prototype, test, and validate hardware iteratively to field-ready status.

Skills

CAD proficiency

GD&T capability

Independent work

Bias for action

Accountability

Tools

Onshape

Job description

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

• 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
• 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

• 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.

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

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.

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