Mechanical Engineer, Missile Defense III

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

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 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

• Base Salary: $110,000- $165,000

• 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.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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.

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