Mechanical Engineer — Hypersonic Defense Hardware

True Anomaly; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company

Generous time off: Flexible Time Off,

Daily catered lunch

401(k) retirement plan

Equity participation

Dog Fridays

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks engineers to design and develop flight hardware for hypersonic defense programs. You will design mechanical systems to perform in extreme environments and contribute to mission-critical hardware used in space defense applications.

You will engineer mechanical structures, validate designs, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure integration of GN&C, TPS, and propulsion interfaces.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross‑functional team environment.
• Hands‑on experience with 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, analysis, and optimization of mechanical structures and assemblies for defense aerospace systems, ensuring designs meet performance, mass, survivability, and reliability requirements
• Assist in the development of flight vehicle structural systems from concept and trade studies through prototyping and hardware delivery, under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Support the design of primary and secondary airframe structures for high-dynamic-pressure, high-g maneuver, and thermally coupled hypersonic flight environments, including aerodynamic loading, vibration, and shock.
• Contribute to the packaging and integration of GN&C hardware, seeker assemblies, and sensor systems within flight vehicle structures, with consideration for optical alignment, vibration isolation, EMI shielding, and thermal management.
• Assist in the design and application of thermal protection system (TPS) components and high-temperature structural assemblies for hypersonic and re-entry environments, including exposure to ablative, ceramic, and composite TPS materials.
• Support propulsion system mechanical integration efforts, including solid rocket motor structural interfaces, divert and attitude control system (DACS) packaging, and nozzle and thrust vector control (TVC) structural interfaces.
• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models and drawings for flight vehicle components, subsystems, and assemblies using NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks.
• Create accurate piece part and assembly drawings with proper application of GD&T standards.
• Support design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) by preparing technical documentation, design rationales, and interface control documents.
• Assist in the development and execution of structural and environmental test plans to support hardware qualification and acceptance activities.
• Work within configuration management systems and PLM/MES tools to maintain design integrity and documentation traceability.

Skills

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Written and verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX (Siemens)

SolidWorks

GD&T basics

Job description

True Anomaly seeks engineers to design and develop flight hardware for hypersonic defense programs. You will design mechanical systems to perform in extreme environments and contribute to mission-critical hardware used in space defense applications.

You will engineer mechanical structures, validate designs, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure integration of GN&C, TPS, and propulsion interfaces.