Senior Mechanical Engineer I

GROW WITH US AND STAY EXTRAORDINARY:
Launch your career to new heights with Innoflight—one of San Diego’s fastest-growing Aerospace and Defense innovators. Here, visionary minds engineer the future of space technology through pioneering, compact, and cyber-secure solutions. From software-defined radios to cutting-edge cryptographic systems and avionics, everything we build powers the next era of New Space. Join our small, agile, and mission-driven team where your work has real impact and your growth has no limits. We’re not just reaching for the stars—we’re engineering them. Let’s innovate the infinite, together.

A DAY IN THE LIFE:
As a Senior Mechanical Engineer I at Innoflight, you will serve as a principal-level contributor providing technical leadership for the design, analysis, and integration of complex mechanical systems for aerospace and spaceflight applications. You will drive system-level solutions across multiple programs, resolve challenging engineering problems, and mentor engineers while upholding rigorous engineering standards. Your work will influence program architecture, risk mitigation, and cross-functional integration, ensuring mission-critical hardware meets requirements, performance, cost, and schedule objectives.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Lead full lifecycle mechanical development: Drive mechanical design from concept through qualification, production, and sustainment for complex, high-reliability systems.
• Serve as senior technical authority: Provide design direction and ensure alignment with system-level requirements, performance, cost, and schedule.
• Perform and review advanced analyses: Conduct and validate thermal, structural, and dynamic analyses using hand calculations and FEA tools such as SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, and NASTRAN.
• Define architectures and trade studies: Develop and review mechanical architectures, risk mitigation strategies, and design trade studies for high-impact programs.
• Oversee documentation and approvals: Review, approve, and sign off on critical technical documentation, drawings, specifications, and analysis reports.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Lead mechanical requirements development with systems engineering, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Lead technical reviews and anomaly boards: Chair design reviews, anomaly resolution boards, and customer-facing technical discussions.
• Support suppliers and external partners: Provide oversight on supplier designs, requirement compliance, and acceptance of delivered hardware.
• Investigate and resolve failures: Lead root cause investigations for complex failures and drive corrective action implementation.
• Mentor engineers and shape best practices: Guide senior and mid-level engineers and promote mechanical engineering standards and lessons learned across programs.
• Support proposals and technology initiatives: Contribute to proposal efforts, technical roadmaps, and long-term technology development strategies.

YOU’RE AWESOME AT:

• Leading complex mechanical engineering programs: Delivering solutions for high-reliability aerospace and spaceflight hardware.
• Advanced analysis and design: Performing and reviewing thermal, structural, and dynamic FEA using SolidWorks, ANSYS, or NASTRAN.
• Mentoring and technical guidance: Supporting engineers across skill levels and driving knowledge sharing.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Working effectively with systems, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality teams.
• Problem-solving and decision-making: Tackling high-risk engineering challenges with strong judgment and analytical skills.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• 12 or more years of progressive mechanical engineering experience, including aerospace, spaceflight, or defense systems.
• Expert proficiency in SolidWorks and related CAD tools for complex assemblies and production drawings.
• Advanced experience with FEA using SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, and/or NASTRAN.
• Electronic packaging design experience required.
• Deep understanding of environmental and structural design considerations, including shock, vibration, thermal, and fatigue.
• Knowledge of applicable standards such as MIL, NASA, and GEVS, and their application to design, te