UAS Mechanical Engineer — Prototyping, Testing & FEA

Rainmaker Technology Corporation; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rainmaker is building a cutting-edge UAS platform for advanced cloud seeding and weather research. This role supports mission-critical subsystems and works closely with senior engineers to grow hands-on hardware skills in a fast-paced environment.

You will design and prototype subsystems, develop test fixtures, conduct FEA studies, and document fabrication data for manufacturers to enable rapid iteration and reliable flight hardware.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of mechanical engineering experience (internships, co-ops, and capstone/project work count) with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field — or equivalent practical experience in lieu of a degree
• Competence in parametric CAD (SolidWorks required)
• Exposure to FEA (coursework, internship, or project-level experience with linear static, linear dynamic, nonlinear dynamic, or thermal analysis)
• Experience with additive manufacturing (FDM, SLA, MJF) for prototyping
• Sheet metal design and manufacturing experience
• Demonstrated ownership of mechanical engineering projects (school, internship, or professional)
• Eagerness to learn in a fast‑paced, hands‑on hardware environment; comfortable receiving close mentorship while building toward more autonomous ownership

Responsibilities

• Project Support & Ownership: Own smaller parts and subsystems from concept to production, with guidance and review from senior engineers.
• Rapid Hardware Prototyping: Design and build functional prototypes for UAS subsystems, iterating quickly based on flight test feedback and mission requirements.
• Test Fixture Design: Help conceptualize, design, build, and run test fixtures for prototype components.
• FEA: Define loading and boundary conditions, set up FEA studies, run and validate results under senior engineer guidance.
• Documentation: Write technical documentation and help prepare fabrication and assembly data for manufacturers.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

CAD (SolidWorks)

FEA exposure

Prototyping

Sheet metal design

Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing

FEA software

Job description

Rainmaker is building a cutting-edge UAS platform for advanced cloud seeding and weather research. This role supports mission-critical subsystems and works closely with senior engineers to grow hands-on hardware skills in a fast-paced environment.

You will design and prototype subsystems, develop test fixtures, conduct FEA studies, and document fabrication data for manufacturers to enable rapid iteration and reliable flight hardware.