SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 233,000 - 292,000 / annual
CHAOS Industries is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to serve as a technical authority for the design, development, packaging, integration, and qualification of ruggedized sensor systems, avionics, electronic hardware, and mission-critical systems for aerospace and defense applications. This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA.
In this role, you will lead the mechanical design and integration of ruggedized electronic hardware, sensor systems, avionics, structures, and mechanisms across major programs. You will serve as the final mechanical technical authority, defining and reviewing mechanical architectures, interfaces, and design approaches to support cross-disciplinary system integration. You will provide resolution to high-risk or ambiguous mechanical problems, create and maintain CAD models, complex assemblies, drawings, and interface control documents (ICDs).
Key responsibilities include performing or guiding structural and thermal analyses and design verification activities; working directly with engineering, manufacturing, customers, suppliers, and platform providers to resolve cross-disciplinary technical challenges; evaluating make/buy options and making technical recommendations; supporting production transition, configuration control, and fielded system sustainment; and providing technical and career mentoring to less-experienced engineers while establishing engineering processes, methods, standards, and best practices.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
- 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in mechanical design and integration of electronic hardware for aerospace, defense, or similar applications
- Expert proficiency with mechanical CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent) and production-ready drawing experience
- Strong understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, installation practices, and interface control documents (ICDs)
- Familiarity with military and aerospace connectors (MIL-DTL-38999, ARINC, Micro-D)
- Strong understanding of mechanical drafting standards, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and configuration-controlled documentation
- Demonstrated experience with ruggedized hardware and environmental qualification considerations
- Experience interpreting and applying military and aerospace standards, including MIL-STD-810 and related qualification requirements
- Proven ability to lead technical decisions and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary integration challenges
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to operate effectively across multiple programs
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
Preferred Requirements:
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Prior experience serving as a mechanical technical authority on a program
- Experience with system-level requirements allocation and architecture trade studies
- Experience supporting environmental qualification testing and analysis (thermal cycling, vibration, shock)
- Experience with mechanisms, actuation systems, structures, thermal management, packaging, cable routing, connector layouts, or electromechanical integration
- Experience with prototyping, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, fabrication, assembly, and production transition
- Experience with commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation tools (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, COMSOL, or similar)
- Familiarity with military and aerospace standards and specifications
