We have an outstanding Contract to Hire position for aMechanical Engineer to join a leading Company located in the Long Beach, CA or Centennial, COsurrounding area.
Pay Rate: $50.00 - $70.00
US Citizenship is required.
Candidate must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.
As a Mechanical Engineer, you will play a critical role in designing and developing flight hardware for some of the most technically demanding programs in the defense aerospace industry. From interceptor systems and kill vehicles to hypersonic flight vehicles, you will engineer mechanical systems that must perform flawlessly in extreme thermal, aerodynamic, and high-g environments - building the hardware that matters most when it counts.
Job 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.
Basic Hiring Criteria:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
1-4 years of professional experience in mechanical design, preferably within missile defense, 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.
Desired Qualifications:
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 missile defense 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.
This position requires access to technologies and hardware subject to US national security-based export control requirements. All applicants must be US Persons (8 USC 1324b(a)(3) ), or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Government. No company sponsorship will be offered.
Benefits offered vary by contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, and affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.
Military connected talent encouraged to apply.
VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled
To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visithttp://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/orhttps://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/
The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:
The California Fair Chance Act
Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
