Mechanical Engineer

Top Echelon Software, LLC; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Echelon Software, LLC seeks a hands-on mechanical engineer to own the full lifecycle of rugged hardware, from concept through manufacture, across enclosure, packaging, and drone integration products.

The role emphasizes rapid prototyping with in-house 3D printing and field-tested designs, including the design of Dongle Cases, Bridge Boxes, and drone attachments for field demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Own the full lifecycle of physical hardware from concept through manufacture.
• Experience designing ruggedized enclosures and drone attachments.
• Ability to prototype with in-house 3D printing and iterate quickly.
• Willingness to travel for field testing and demonstrations.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee manufacture of Dongle Cases, Bridge Boxes, and other ruggedized electronic enclosures
• Specify, source, and customize swarm packaging solutions including Pelican cases and precision foam inserts
• Design, test, and manufacture drone attachments and physical modifications, from simple brackets to actuated mechanisms
• Collaborate with the engineering team on mechanism design, prototyping, and field validation

Job description

Our Client seeks a mechanical engineer to join our hardware development team. This role targets a designer and builder capable of owning the full lifecycle of physical hardware — from concept through manufacture — across a range of enclosure, packaging, and drone integration products. Primary responsibilities include the design and manufacture of Dongle Cases and Bridge Boxes, the ruggedized electronic enclosures central to Our Client’s ground station and communications infrastructure.

Unlike many hardware roles, Our Client’s compact platform allows mechanical work to be prototyped and iterated quickly, with in-house 3D printing and a bias toward rapid, field-testable designs. Travel opportunities for field testing and demonstrations will allow you to witness firsthand how your hardware performs as dozens of drones take flight.

Position will also encompass the design, testing, and manufacture of drone attachments and physical modifications — ranging from simple mounting brackets to complex multi-axis actuators — as well as the development of mechanisms supporting Our Client ’s concept: self-contained, rapidly deployable systems with integrated logistics, charging, and launch capability.

The role includes responsibility for Our Client’s swarm packaging program: specifying, sourcing, and customizing Pelican case configurations and precision-cut foam inserts to ensure vehicles and ground equipment survive transport and deployment in demanding field environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and oversee manufacture of Dongle Cases, Bridge Boxes, and other ruggedized electronic enclosures
• Specify, source, and customize swarm packaging solutions including Pelican cases and precision foam inserts
• Design, test, and manufacture drone attachments and physical modifications, from simple brackets to actuated mechanisms
• Collaborate with the engineering team on mechanism design, prototyping, and field validation