Mechanical Engineer, Missile Defense III

True Anomaly, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class healthcare

Flexible Time Off

Daily catered lunch

401(k) retirement plan

Fitness reimbursement

Dog Fridays

Equity participation

Job summary

True Anomaly, Inc. is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design and develop flight hardware for hypersonic and missile-defense programs. You will craft mechanical systems that endure extreme environments and deliver precision intercept capability.

You will create 3D models, drawings, and test plans, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure performance, mass, and reliability targets are met. This onsite role favors candidates in the Denver area with related defense experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
• 4-8 years of professional experience in mechanical design, preferably missile defense or hypersonic systems.
• Hands-on experience with 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks.
• Working knowledge of GD&T principles and their application to part and assembly drawings.
• Exposure to guidance/seeker packaging concepts and sensor integration constraints.

Responsibilities

• Support design, analysis, and optimization of mechanical structures for defense aerospace systems.
• Assist in development of flight vehicle structural systems from concept to hardware delivery.
• Support airframe structures for high-dynamic-pressure and hypersonic environments, including thermal, vibration, and EMI considerations.
• Contribute to packaging of GN&C hardware and sensor systems within flight structures.
• Assist in TPS components and high-temperature structural assemblies for hypersonic/re-entry applications.
• Support propulsion system mechanical integration and interfaces.
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models and drawings using NX/SolidWorks.
• Create GD&T compliant drawings and participate in design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR).
• Assist in structural/environmental test planning for hardware qualification and acceptance.
• Work within CM/PLM systems to maintain documentation traceability.

Skills

Strong collaboration

Excellent communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Eng

Tools

NX (Siemens)

SolidWorks

Job description

Mechanical Engineer, Missile Defense III

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take?We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

BENEFITS & PERKS *

• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
• Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
• Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
• And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
• Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.

*Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles

YOUR MISSION
The next generation of missile defense demands hardware that performs flawlessly at hypersonic speeds, survives extreme thermal and aerodynamic environments, and delivers precision intercept against the most advanced threats ever fielded. True Anomaly is building that hardware — and we are looking for engineers who want to be part of it.
As a Mechanical Engineer at True Anomaly, you will play a critical role in designing and developing flight hardware for some of the most technically demanding programs in the defense aerospace industry. You will engineer mechanical systems that must perform flawlessly in extreme environments, building the hardware that matters most when it counts.

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 guidance, navigation, and control (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.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 4-8 years of professional experience in mechanical design, preferably within missile defense, hypersonic systems, defense aerospace, or a related industry.
• Exposure to or coursework in missile systems, hypersonic vehicle design, or high-performance flight vehicle structures, including aerodynamic loading, thermal-structural coupling, or re-entry environments.
• Hands-on experience with 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks.
• Working knowledge of GD&T principles and their application to piece part and assembly drawings.
• Familiarity with structural and mechanical design principles, including load paths, joints, and materials selection relevant to high-dynamic-pressure and thermally demanding flight environments.
• Exposure to guidance or seeker packaging concepts, including sensor integration constraints, vibration isolation, optical alignment, and EMI management.
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials or TPS concepts used in hypersonic or re-entry applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience designing hardware for high-performance flight environments, including considerations for aerodynamic heating, high-g loading, shock, and vibration.
• Familiarity with defense aerospace hardware, including mass-constrained structures and precision seeker or sensor integration.
• Exposure to TPS design or high-temperature materials, including ablative, ceramic, or composite systems used in hypersonic or re-entry applications.
• Familiarity with hypersonic flight vehicle aeroshell design concepts, including structural joints under aero heating and TPS panel integration.
• Exposure to propulsion system mechanical integration, including solid rocket motor, DACS, or TVC interface design.
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods or FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Ansys) and ability to interpret results in support of design decisions.
• Background in or exposure to spacecraft or satellite mechanical design, with ability to apply crossover principles from space environment hardware to missile defense applications.
• Familiarity with relevant defense and aerospace standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-SPEC, AIAA S-110).
• Exposure to full hardware lifecycle, from concept and design through fabrication, assembly, and test.
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods or FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Ansys) and ability to interpret results in support of design decisions.
• Familiarity with configuration management and PLM tools (e.g., TeamCenter, Windchill) and engineering change processes.
• Experience working in a startup or fast-paced defense environment with compressed development timelines.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability and willingness to obtain one.

COMPENSATION

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location —This is a fully onsite role. Candidates must be based in or able to commute to our Denver or Long Beach office daily.
• Work environment —the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands —the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Are you currently a U.S. Person as described above, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorization?

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Voluntary Self-Identification: For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in True Anomaly’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Income: If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.