Mechanical Engineer II: Defense R&D, Prototyping & Testing

Texas Research International; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mission-driven R&D

Competitive compensation

On-site in Austin

Job summary

TRI Austin, Inc. seeks a hands-on Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary R&D team.

You will design, analyze, prototype, and test mechanical hardware for defense and government projects, with emphasis on DoD programs, composites, and advanced materials. You will contribute to proposals, write technical sections, and work with 3D CAD, FEA/CFD, and cross‑disciplinary teams while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 3–7 years hands-on experience developing and testing mechanical hardware for defense/aerospace.
• Experience with DoD capture efforts or proposal writing is a plus.
• Experience supporting DoD or military programs and ability to obtain security clearance.
• Proficiency in a 3D CAD system and common engineering analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to all phases of mechanical design from concept to prototype, including 3D CAD, drawings, BOMs, and manufacturability reviews.
• Fabricate, assemble, and test prototypes; write test procedures, analyze data, and document results.
• Perform engineering analyses using FEA/CFD to support decisions and risk reduction.
• Hands-on composite work: fabricate, repair, test fiber-reinforced structures and translate materials behavior into robust designs.
• Support proposals by developing technical approaches, scopes of work, and inputs for cost/schedule estimates.
• Coordinate with vendors and subcontractors; mentor junior engineers and maintain rigorous documentation.

Skills

3D CAD

FEA/CFD tools

Technical writing

Security clearance eligible

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

3D CAD software

Job description

TRI Austin, Inc. seeks a hands-on Mid-Level Mechanical Engineer to join our multidisciplinary R&D team.

You will design, analyze, prototype, and test mechanical hardware for defense and government projects, with emphasis on DoD programs, composites, and advanced materials. You will contribute to proposals, write technical sections, and work with 3D CAD, FEA/CFD, and cross‑disciplinary teams while mentoring junior staff.