Ruggedized Mechanical Engineer for Defense Systems

Socket.dev; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k with company match

Free daily lunch

No meeting Fridays

Unlimited PTO

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus

Job summary

CHAOS Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to provide hands-on mechanical expertise for integrating ruggedized electronics and mission‑critical hardware into ground‑ and sea‑mobile platforms for aerospace and defense applications.

In this role, you will support the design and mechanical integration of military electronics and effector systems with critical platform structures and mechanisms, working alongside senior engineers on design challenges ranging from compact

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, completed or expected soon.
• Experience in mechanical design, structures, or system integration (aerospace/defense exposure a plus but not required).
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) for assemblies and top-down design.
• Foundational understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, and installation practices.
• Exposure to structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEA).
• Strong communication and eagerness to learn in a multi-project environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support technical leadership and hands‑on prototyping and mechanical integration of mission systems: electronics, enclosures, effectors, launchers, mechanisms, and support equipment into ground‑ and sea‑mobile platforms
• Assist in the design of mechanical structures, frames, mounts, enclosures, and mechanisms subject to shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental constraints
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, and ICDs to support multi-disciplinary system integration
• Perform first‑order structural and thermal analyses and requirements allocations under the guidance of senior engineers to ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable military standards
• Support system‑level integration, qualification, and acceptance activities, including installation, alignment, and fit‑check efforts
• Assist as a technical hardware interface with customers, platform providers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
• Support production transition, configuration control, and fielded system sustainment, including investigation of integration issues

Skills

CAD tools

FEA knowledge

Communication skills

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

CHAOS Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to provide hands-on mechanical expertise for integrating ruggedized electronics and mission‑critical hardware into ground‑ and sea‑mobile platforms for aerospace and defense applications.

In this role, you will support the design and mechanical integration of military electronics and effector systems with critical platform structures and mechanisms, working alongside senior engineers on design challenges ranging from compact