Senior Mechanical Engineer

LTA Research; United States; On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Parental leave

PTO and holidays

Education stipend

Job summary

LTA Research seeks a versatile mechanical engineer to design and validate complex propulsion and thermal systems for flight and ground equipment. You will work across engineering teams to ensure performance and manufacturability from design through qualification testing.

You will apply CAD tools like SolidWorks, perform FEA, GD&T, and develop robust test plans. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and external machine shops is essential to optimize for reliability and producibility.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Minimum 5 years professional engineering experience
• Experience with mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems
• Experience with GD&T and manufacturing processes

Responsibilities

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

Skills

CAD modeling

Structural analysis

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

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, 401(k) 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. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. 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.