Senior Mechanical Engineer

LTA Research; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Excellent medical, dental, and vision

401(k) matching up to 6%

Parental leave

Generous PTO and holidays

Lunch and snacks provided

Job summary

LTA Research is seeking a seasoned mechanical/aerospace engineer to design complex mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment. You will validate through analyses, create GD&T drawings, and coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust system performance and manufacturability.

Applicants should have a BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with 5+ years of experience, proficiency in SolidWorks and FEMAP/Nastran, and a strong grounding in materials,

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience in mechanical or aerospace industries.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling and drawings with SolidWorks.
• Experience with PDM/PLM tools.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics.
• End-to-end design and sizing of mechanical structures, thermal management, and fluid routing.
• Experience with GD&T and traditional manufacturing processes.
• Experience with FEMAP/Nastran.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment.
• Validate systems with structural and thermal analyses using classical methods and advanced tools.
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings with GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to verify system integrations meet requirements.
• Work with manufacturing engineers and shops to optimize manufacturability and assembly.
• Build test plans, oversee qualification testing, and analyze data.
• Present analyses during design reviews; drive problem solving through root cause analysis.
• Investigate non-conformances and implement corrective actions.

Skills

CAD modeling

SolidWorks

FEMAP/Nastran

GD&T

PDM/PLM tools

Mechanics of materials

Thermodynamics

Fluid dynamics

Education

B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

FEMAP/Nastran

PDM/PLM tools

Job description

This role will design and develop complex mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment, working across cross-functional engineering teams to validate system integrations and support manufacturability from design through qualification testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop complex mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment
• Validate mechanical and fluid systems through structural and thermal analyses, using classical engineering methods and advanced simulation tools
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings incorporating GD&T (ASME Y14.5) standards
• Interface with cross-functional engineering teams to verify system integrations meet requirements and performance metrics
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers and external machine shops to ensure components are optimized for manufacturability and assembly
• Build test plans, oversee qualification testing, and analyze data for mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems
• Present engineering solutions and analysis results during cross-departmental design reviews
• Investigate and resolve non-conformances and failures through root cause analysis

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience in mechanical or aerospace industries
• Proficiency in CAD modeling and creating drawings with SolidWorks (or similar)
• Experience working with PDM/PLM tools
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals, including mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics
• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end design and sizing of mechanical structures, thermal management systems, and fluid routing components
• Demonstrated experience with GD&T and traditional manufacturing processes
• Experience working with Finite Element Analysis in FEMAP/Nastran (or similar)

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Demonstrated experience designing highly loaded/lightweight structural components (including composite and metallic)
• Demonstrated experience with coupled thermo-mechanical systems, active thermal management solutions, and high-pressure fluid routing for extreme environments
• Expert-level use of Finite Element Analysis tools

What We Offer!

• Relocation assistance
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents)
• Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances
• Parental leave
• Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) matching up to 6%
• Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field
• Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride
• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields

Compliance Requirements

• Criminal background check clearance
• Drug test clearance wherever applicable

$135,000 - $160,000 a year

The base salary range for this role is $135,000 - 160,000, which is determined based on experience, geography, and qualifications. The base salary is one component of the total compensation package, which includes a very competitive annual bonus, 401K Match, and other generous benefits. While we believe competitive compensation is a critical aspect of your decision to join us, we do hope you also spend time considering why our mission and culture are right for you.

SMS Text Messaging (10DLC Compliance)

LTA RESEARCH may communicate with applicants and users via SMS (text messaging) for purposes related to job applications, interview scheduling, and other recruitment updates. By providing your phone number through our application or contact forms, you consent to receive such communications.

We do not use SMS for marketing purposes, and we will never sell, rent, or share your phone number with third parties for their promotional use.

Message Frequency & Opt-Out:

Message frequency may vary depending on your application status. Standard message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. For assistance, reply HELP.

Consent & Privacy:

Your consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of employment. All data collected through text messaging is handled accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws, ensuring your personal information is kept secure and confidential.

LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.

Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer.

All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.