Senior Mechanical Engineer

Wardstone; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Wardstone is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to own major structural and mechanical subsystems on the interceptor, from concept to flight hardware. You will perform structural, vibration, and thermal analyses, and develop production-ready CAD models with GD&T while collaborating with propulsion, aerodynamics, and controls teams.

You will directly shape hardware through shop and test environments, selecting materials suitable for high‑stress aerospace applications, and mentoring junior

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years designing flight or high-load hardware.
• Owned at least one subsystem from design through test.
• Strong CAD skills with complex assemblies and GD&T.
• Strong structural analysis skills incl. hand calculations and FEA.
• Material selection experience for high-stress aerospace applications.
• Hands-on with hardware in shop and test environments.
• U.S. person per ITAR; eligible for U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design subsystems from requirements through flight hardware.
• Run structural, vibration, shock, and thermal analyses (hand calcs & FEA).
• Produce production-ready CAD models and drawings with GD&T.
• Contribute to vehicle-level work, including loads analysis and mass properties.
• Collaborate with propulsion and aerodynamics on thermal loads and interfaces.
• Package and mount avionics, harnesses, and actuators with electrical/controls teams.
• Select materials and processes; work with vendors to ensure parts meet specs.
• Design test fixtures and rigs; perform structural and environmental tests, improve designs.
• Build and modify hardware in-house; mentor junior engineers and participate in reviews.

Skills

CAD drafting

Structural analysis

GD&T

Hands-on hardware

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering or related

Tools

FEA software

CAD software

Job description

Overview

You will own major structural and mechanical subsystems on the interceptor, such as airframe sections, internal structure, fin actuation, separation mechanisms, or the launcher interface. You’ll take them from first concept through analysis, fabrication, ground test, and live flight. You’ll report to the Mechanical Engineering Lead and work alongside the founders and the propulsion, aerodynamics, controls, and electrical engineers.

The vehicle has to survive extreme launch, aerodynamic, vibration, and thermal loads. It also has to fit hard volume and interface limits set by existing launchers. At our stage, you’ll have real ownership: your designs will fly.

What You’ll Do

Design subsystems

• Own the design of your assigned structures and mechanisms from requirements through flight hardware.
• Run structural, vibration, shock, and thermal analysis on your subsystems, including hand calculations and FEA.
• Produce production-ready CAD models and drawings with GD&T, following the team’s standards.
• Contribute to vehicle-level work, including OML trades, loads analysis, and mass properties.

Integrate with other teams

• Work with propulsion and aerodynamics on thermal loads, structural margins, and interfaces.
• Work with electrical and controls to package, route, and mount avionics, harnesses, and actuators.

Build and test

• Select materials and processes for your hardware, including composites, high‑strength alloys, and high‑temperature materials.
• Work directly with vendors and machine shops to get parts made correctly and on time.
• Design test fixtures and rigs, run structural and environmental tests, and use the results to improve your designs.
• Build and modify hardware yourself in our in‑house shop.

Help raise the bar

• Present your work in design reviews and give useful reviews of others’ work.
• Help shape team practices, and mentor junior engineers as the team grows.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience designing flight or high-load hardware.
• Has owned at least one subsystem from design through test.
• Strong CAD skills, including complex assemblies and drawings with GD&T.
• Strong structural analysis skills, including hand calculations and FEA for static, dynamic, and vibration loads.
• Material selection experience for high-stress aerospace applications.
• Comfortable working hands‑on with hardware in a shop and test environment.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

Nice to Have

• Hardware experience on missiles, rockets, UAVs, or other high‑speed aerospace vehicles.
• Mechanism design experience, such as actuators, deployables, or separation systems.
• Manual or CNC mill and lathe proficiency.
• Experience with MIL-STD environmental testing (e.g., MIL-STD-810: thermal, vibration, shock).
• Experience designing and building your own structural test rigs.
• Prior early‑stage startup experience.

Overview

You will own major structural and mechanical subsystems on the interceptor, such as airframe sections, internal structure, fin actuation, separation mechanisms, or the launcher interface. You’ll take them from first concept through analysis, fabrication, ground test, and live flight. You’ll report to the Mechanical Engineering Lead and work alongside the founders and the propulsion, aerodynamics, controls, and electrical engineers.

The vehicle has to survive extreme launch, aerodynamic, vibration, and thermal loads. It also has to fit hard volume and interface limits set by existing launchers. At our stage, you’ll have real ownership: your designs will fly.

What You’ll Do

Design subsystems

• Own the design of your assigned structures and mechanisms from requirements through flight hardware.
• Run structural, vibration, shock, and thermal analysis on your subsystems, including hand calculations and FEA.
• Produce production-ready CAD models and drawings with GD&T, following the team’s standards.
• Contribute to vehicle-level work, including OML trades, loads analysis, and mass properties.

Integrate with other teams

• Work with propulsion and aerodynamics on thermal loads, structural margins, and interfaces.
• Work with electrical and controls to package, route, and mount avionics, harnesses, and actuators.

Build and test

• Select materials and processes for your hardware, including composites, high‑strength alloys, and high‑temperature materials.
• Work directly with vendors and machine shops to get parts made correctly and on time.
• Design test fixtures and rigs, run structural and environmental tests, and use the results to improve your designs.
• Build and modify hardware yourself in our in‑house shop.

Help raise the bar

• Present your work in design reviews and give useful reviews of others’ work.
• Help shape team practices, and mentor junior engineers as the team grows.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience designing flight or high-load hardware.
• Has owned at least one subsystem from design through test.
• Strong CAD skills, including complex assemblies and drawings with GD&T.
• Strong structural analysis skills, including hand calculations and FEA for static, dynamic, and vibration loads.
• Material selection experience for high‑stress aerospace applications.
• Comfortable working hands‑on with hardware in a shop and test environment.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual). [Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.]

Nice to Have

• Hardware experience on missiles, rockets, UAVs, or other high‑speed aerospace vehicles.
• Mechanism design experience, such as actuators, deployables, or separation systems.
• Manual or CNC mill and lathe proficiency.
• Experience with MIL-STD environmental testing (e.g., MIL-STD-810: thermal, vibration, shock).
• Experience designing and building your own structural test rigs.
• Prior early‑stage startup experience.

Compensation

• The base pay range for this role is $140,000 – $170,000 per year.