Senior Manager, Avionics Mechanical Engineering

Apera; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Benefits

Job summary

Apera in Seattle seeks a Senior Manager of Avionics Mechanical Engineering to lead enclosure design, thermal management, and custom boards for flight and ground avionics. You’ll cradle-to-grave the program, shaping standards, processes, and culture while guiding a growing team.

You’ll translate complex mechanical needs into robust systems under extreme vibration and altitude, mentor engineers, and partner with electrical teams to deliver reliable, flight-ready hardware.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years of mechanical design experience around electronics and electrical systems.
• Strong CAD skills (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar).
• Experience with FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue/lifecycle testing.
• Experience partnering with electrical engineers on avionics packaging.
• Ability to obtain a Secret-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ~12, with path to 20 by year end, building standards, processes and technical culture.
• Own cradle-to-grave responsibility from concept through manufacturing for enclosure design, thermal management and custom boards.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to ensure avionics packaging meets harsh environment requirements.

Skills

Mechanical design leadership

Electronics packaging

Thermal management

CAD (NX/SolidWorks/CATIA)

Security clearance eligible

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

SENIOR MANAGER, AVIONICS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING | SEATTLE, WA

Build the mechanical backbone of the world's first AI-piloted fighter jet...

This isn't a concept. Prototypes are built. Flight testing starts this year. And the mechanical systems that protect and cool every piece of flight-critical electronics on this aircraft don't exist yet, that's where you come in.

We're looking for a Senior Manager of Avionics Mechanical Engineering to build and lead the team responsible for enclosure design, thermal management, and custom circuit boards across flight and ground avionics. You'll own it cradle to grave, from concept through manufacturing, in an environment with large custom boards, extreme vibration, high altitude, liquid cooling, and zero tolerance for failure.

This is a leadership role for someone who's ready to lead, not just execute.

You'll take a team of roughly 12, with a clear path to 20 by year end, and build the standards, processes, and technical culture from the ground up. You won't be an individual contributor day to day, but you'll need the technical fluency to know exactly what 'right' looks like, and the credibility to earn your team's trust from day one.

Requirements:

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 10+ years of mechanical design experience around electronics and electrical systems
• Strong CAD skills (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or similar)
• Experience with FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue/lifecycle testing
• Experience partnering with electrical engineers on avionics packaging
• Ability to obtain a Secret-level security clearance

Ideal backgrounds:

rockets, satellites, spacecraft, aircraft, or ruggedized electronics, the kind of environments where cooling, vibration, and packaging constraints actually matter.

Full-time regular employee offer package:

Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

If you've built hardware that has to survive extreme conditions and you're ready for a bigger leadership seat, this is your next move.