Principal Mechanical Engineer

CHAOS, a leading aerospace and defense company, as a Principal Mechanical Engineer. In this full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA, you will provide high-value mechanical expertise for the integration of ruggedized electronics and mission-critical hardware into ground- and sea-mobile platforms. You will lead the design for mechanical integration, spanning the full product lifecycle from concept development to production and sustainment. The ideal candidate has strong hands-on mechanical CAD and system integration experience, a deep understanding of ruggedized hardware design, and a proven ability to work independently and guide cross-disciplinary engineering efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and mechanical integration of military electronics and effector systems with platform structures.
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, and interface control documentation to support system integration.
• Serve as a primary technical hardware interface with customers, platform providers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
• The ideal candidate has strong hands-on mechanical CAD and system integration experience, demonstrated prototyping skills, a deep understanding of ruggedized hardware design, and a proven ability to work independently and guide cross-disciplinary engineering efforts
• Solid understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, installation practices, and interface control documents (ICDs)
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in platform-level mechanical design and system integration for aerospace and defense applications

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• Experience interpreting and applying military standards, such as MIL-STD-810 and related platform qualification requirements
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
• Proven experience integrating mechanical subsystems and mission systems into vehicles, mobile platforms, or fixed installations
• Strong proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent) for large assemblies and top-down design
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decisions and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary integration challenges

Familiarity with structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEA)

• Strong communication skills and ability to operate effectively in multi-project development environments
• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Prior experience serving as a mechanical technical authority on a program
• Experience with mechanisms and actuation systems, including linkages, bearings, motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics, gimbals, or rotary joints
• Familiarity with vehicle integration constraints, including shock, vibration, transport, and operational loads
• Knowledge of manufacturing and assembly processes for mobile or deployable mechanical structures and mechanisms
• Experience with at least one commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation package (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD codes, COMSOL, etc.)

Preferred

• Familiarity with ruggedized military hardware and environmental qualification considerations

Experience with system-level requirements allocation

• Experience with prototyping, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, and other fabrication techniques
• Familiarity with military-style connectors (e.g., mil-circular 38999, ARINC, micro-D)

Pay

USD 175,000 - 215,000