Mechanical Engineer, Space Based Interceptors (II - III)

Summary

True Anomaly is a company dedicated to building technology that secures the space environment. They are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design and develop flight hardware for interceptor systems and hypersonic flight vehicles, ensuring performance in extreme conditions.

Responsibilities

• Support the design, analysis, and optimization of mechanical structures and assemblies for interceptor systems, kill vehicles, and hypersonic flight vehicles, ensuring designs meet performance, mass, survivability, and reliability requirements
• Assist in the development of flight vehicle structural systems from concept and trade studies through prototyping and hardware delivery, under the guidance of senior engineers
• Support the design of primary and secondary airframe structures for high-dynamic-pressure, high-g maneuver, and thermally coupled hypersonic flight environments, including aerodynamic loading, vibration, and shock
• Contribute to the packaging and integration of guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) hardware, seeker assemblies, and sensor systems within flight vehicle structures, with consideration for optical alignment, vibration isolation, EMI shielding, and thermal management
• Assist in the design and application of thermal protection system (TPS) components and high-temperature structural assemblies for hypersonic and re-entry environments, including exposure to ablative, ceramic, and composite TPS materials
• Support propulsion system mechanical integration efforts, including solid rocket motor structural interfaces, divert and attitude control system (DACS) packaging, and nozzle and thrust vector control (TVC) structural interfaces
• Develop and maintain detailed 3D CAD models and drawings for flight vehicle components, subsystems, and assemblies using NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks
• Create accurate piece part and assembly drawings with proper application of GD&T standards
• Support design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) by preparing technical documentation, design rationales, and interface control documents
• Assist in the development and execution of structural and environmental test plans to support hardware qualification and acceptance activities
• Work within configuration management systems and PLM/MES tools to maintain design integrity and documentation traceability

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 1–4 years of professional experience in mechanical design, preferably within Space Based Interceptors, hypersonic systems, defense aerospace, or a related industry
• Exposure to or coursework in missile systems, hypersonic vehicle design, or high-performance flight vehicle structures, including aerodynamic loading, thermal-structural coupling, or re-entry environments
• Hands-on experience with 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks
• Working knowledge of GD&T principles and their application to piece part and assembly drawings
• Familiarity with structural and mechanical design principles, including load paths, joints, and materials selection relevant to high-dynamic-pressure and thermally demanding flight environments
• Exposure to guidance or seeker packaging concepts, including sensor integration constraints, vibration isolation, optical alignment, and EMI management
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials or TPS concepts used in hypersonic or re-entry applications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience designing hardware for high-performance flight environments, including considerations for aerodynamic heating, high-g loading, shock, and vibration
• Familiarity with interceptor, kill vehicle, or re-entry system hardware, including mass-constrained structures and precision seeker or sensor integration
• Exposure to TPS design or high-temperature materials, including ablative, ceramic, or composite systems used in hypersonic or re-entry applications
• Familiarity with hypersonic flight vehicle aeroshell design concepts, including structural joints under aeroheating and TPS panel integration
• Exposure to propulsion system mechanical integration, including solid rocket motor, DACS, or TVC interface design
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods or FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Ansys) and ability to interpret results in support of design decisions
• Background in or exposure to spacecraft or satellite mechanical design, with ability to apply crossover principles from space environment hardware to Space Based Interceptors applications
• Familiarity with relevant defense and aerospace standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-SPEC, AIAA S-110)
• Exposure to full hardware lifecycle, from concept and design through fabrication, assembly, and test
• Familiarity with configuration management and PLM tools (e.g., TeamCenter, Windchill) and engineering change processes
• Experience working in a startup or fast-paced defense environment with compressed development timelines
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability and willingness to obtain one

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 1–4 years of professional experience in mechanical design, preferably within Space Based Interceptors, hypersonic systems, defense aerospace, or a related industry
• Exposure to or coursework in missile systems, hypersonic vehicle design, or high-performance flight vehicle structures, including aerodynamic loading, thermal-structural coupling, or re-entry environments
• Hands-on experience with 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks
• Working knowledge of GD&T principles and their application to piece part and assembly drawings
• Familiarity with structural and mechanical design principles, including load paths, joints, and materials selection relevant to high-dynamic-pressure and thermally demanding flight environments
• Exposure to guidance or seeker packaging concepts, including sensor integration constraints, vibration isolation, optical alignment, and EMI management
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials or TPS concepts used in hypersonic or re-entry applications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Haves

• Experience designing hardware for high-performance flight environments, including considerations for aerodynamic heating, high-g loading, shock, and vibration
• Familiarity with interceptor, kill vehicle, or re-entry system hardware, including mass-constrained structures and precision seeker or sensor integration
• Exposure to TPS design or high-temperature materials, including ablative, ceramic, or composite systems used in hypersonic or re-entry applications
• Familiarity with hypersonic flight vehicle aeroshell design concepts, including structural joints under aeroheating and TPS panel integration
• Exposure to propulsion system mechanical integration, including solid rocket motor, DACS, or TVC interface design
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods or FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Ansys) and ability to interpret results in support of design decisions
• Background in or exposure to spacecraft or satellite mechanical design, with ability to apply crossover principles from space environment hardware to Space Based Interceptors applications
• Familiarity with relevant defense and aerospace standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-1540, MIL-SPEC, AIAA S-110)
• Exposure to full hardware lifecycle, from concept and design through fabrication, assembly, and test
• Familiarity with configuration management and PLM tools (e.g., TeamCenter, Windchill) and engineering change processes
• Experience working in a startup or fast-paced defense environment with compressed development timelines
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability and willingness to obtain one

Benefits

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave