Mechanical Engineer 2

Zohorecruit; Prineville, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

Vacation time

Phantom stock

IRA with employer match

Job summary

Samson’s in Prineville, Oregon is seeking a Mechanical Engineer (ME 2) to drive design, analysis, and fabrication of prototype aircraft and automotive systems. The role emphasizes fast design iterations, solid CAD tooling, and hands-on assembly for prototype validation.

The engineer collaborates closely with a small team, conducts tests, and ensures parts meet drawings and performance goals. Experience with SolidWorks and fabrication tools is essential, with emphasis on safety and quality.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with several years of experience in mechanical design, prototyping, and testing.
• SolidWorks or similar CAD software proficiency required; comfortable using hand tools.
• Comfort with hands-on fabrication, machining, welding, and using power tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and fabricate various mechanical systems including powertrains, suspension, and controls.
• Develop and execute tests, document results, and participate in test runs for prototype vehicles.
• Work in a small team with open communication to shorten design iterations and implement changes.
• Assess prototype parts for quality and accuracy per drawings and assist in assembly of prototype vehicles.

Skills

Mechanical design

Prototyping

Testing

Hands-on fabrication

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CAD

Job description

Prineville, United States | Posted on 09/01/2026

In its commitment to long-term expansion and enhanced service to customers and community, Samson’s (Company) standards of employee skill, competence and teamwork are and shall remain among the highest in the field.

Thus, for the position of ME 2 the employee must be able to exhibit excellent written and computer skills, observational skills, reading skills, and communication skills to the end that our prototype and engineering work has limited ME issues once work is completed.

Design, analyze, and fabricate various aircraft and automotive systems. Including but not limited to powertrain (hybrid high voltage systems), suspension, aircraft controls, brakes, structures, lighting, etc. The position requires a fast-paced approach to design and iteration in which novel designs may be required. Designs will need to be taken from a first principles hand calculations approach to completed design in SolidWorks, to potential analysis using FEA and CFD simulations, and finally with completed drawings for manufacture.

This position will also include design, build and implementation of tests. This may include suspension drop tests, heat exchanger testing, aerodynamic testing, powertrain testing, etc. This will include creating and completing testing documentation.

You will work closely in a small team environment with open communication on designs with frequent informal progress updates in order to shorten design iteration and potential changes required.

You will assess prototype parts for quality and accuracy per the design drawings.

You will also take part in the physical build and assembly of any systems used in the prototype, which includes their assembly into any prototype vehicles. This requires an ability to work on vehicles from different positions, being able to lift reasonable weight, and not being allergic to automotive gasoline or oils or cleaning solvents.

Experience in fabrication, including machining, welding, using power tools, etc. is highly desired.

You will take part in test runs and flights of the prototype vehicle, helping to prepare the vehicle beforehand, be a part of the test crew, and perform any operations required in between and after testing.

In addition to the technical knowledge, experience, and competence required, Company's employees must also possess personal aptitude for solving problems, high intelligence, perseverance, orderliness, responsibility and drive toward and satisfaction of attaining goals. Equally important qualities are calmness and endurance under stressful conditions, consistency and predictability in the regular attendance to duty, individual initiative as well as participation in group efforts, and correct estimation of existing circumstances. The employee must be upbeat, have effective communication skills, display fairness, empathy and appreciation of fellow workers, with an absence of unconstructive or ill-considered criticism.

The Valuable Final Product of the ME Position would be: well thought out and engineered solutions for prototypes and flying/driving vehicles that meet or exceed industry standards. The Valuable Final Product for assisting in any assembly work or testing work would be: well documented and safe assembly work and testing work completed.

The statistics for the ME 2 position above would be: 1) Number of cycles completed each day.

Requirements

BS in Mechanical Engineering with several years of experience in mechanical design, prototyping, and testing. A high degree of competency in SolidWorks or similar CAD software is required. The engineer should be comfortable and familiar with using hand tools.

This position requires a high degree of understanding and familiarity with aircraft and automotive systems.

The engineer must have a high degree of self-tasking, self-starting and self-motivation.

Five days of sick leave annually upon hiring. One week of vacation time after six months, increasing on a schedule related to years of employment up to three weeks, with up to one half of a year's vacation rolled over annually if unused. Phantom Stock bonus benefit for making milestones (form of profit sharing). Near future benefits will include health and pilot training for those who wish to learn to fly.

IRA program is in place and can be automatically deducted from payroll if desired. Matching IRA from employer is also a near future planned benefit.