• Mechanical Design Engineer

    Actalent (Mojave, CA)


    Description

    To help achieve these efforts, we are seeking a Senior or Staff-level Structural or Mechanical Engineer to lead the structures team in the continued development of the air-launched, Talon-A hypersonic flight vehicle development program. This position requires leading a multi-disciplined group of engineers to design, build, integrate, and test vehicles and payloads to meet customer structural requirements. An ideal candidate has prototype development or small scale-production experience, with focus in thermal-structural-mechanical design, leading to first flights.

    ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

    Work hand-in-hand with the program responsible engineers, Payload Lead, and Talon-A Chief Engineer to lead the program to a successful outcome

     

    Lead a diverse team of mechanical engineers, structural engineers, structural analysts, dynamics analysts, and manufacturing engineers

     

    Lead structural development of the hypersonic vehicle and integration of payloads, including trade studies and structural layout

     

    Responsible for making final technical decisions for the structures subsystem

     

    Lead the successful execution of structural design reviews to advance the program vehicles through manufacturing and flight test

     

    Lead structural systems engineering approach, which may include: creating and dispositioning structural requirements, mass properties management, guiding the configuration management of models, reviewing and approving documents/reports/analyses, setting engineering and design best practices and standards for the structures team, waiving or approving ground testing based on structural technical risk assessments, etc.

     

    Management of Talon-A structures team (1:1s, reviews, etc.)

     

    Regular and comprehensive communication to program Chief Engineer

     

    Contribute to the integration of complex aerospace systems

     

    Travel, as needed, to support the program

     

    Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments

     

    Skills

     

    structural design, composite analysis, composite engineering, airframe design, Mechanical engineering

     

    Top Skills Details

     

    structural design,composite analysis,composite engineering

     

    Additional Skills & Qualifications

    QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    Required Qualifications:

    Knowledge of, and experience with, one or more of these disciplines: structures, loads, structural-thermal analysis, mechanical systems, aircraft systems, aircraft operations, launch vehicle integration

     

    Significant experience with the rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles, including full life-cycle involvement on at least one program

     

    Significant experience as a design engineering and/or analyst lead on a structures team

     

    Experience with composite structures analysis, design, and manufacturing

     

    Experience with technical aerospace leadership, including working with sub-contractors

     

    Experience with risk management

     

    Experience working in small engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities

     

    Excellent written & verbal communication

     

    Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance

     

    Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals

     

    Complex aerospace system development

     

    Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities

    Preferred Qualifications:

    Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development

     

    Experience with air-launched vehicle development

     

    Experience with BMI or epoxy pre-preg composites

     

    Experience with static structural testing

    Required Computer Skills:

    MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)

     

    Configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA, etc.

     

    3D CAD experience - CATIA or Solidworks

    Preferred Computer Skills:

    Experience with FEMAP and NX NASTRAN

     

    Programming - Python, C++, or Matlab

    Experience Level

    Expert Level

     

    Job Type & Location

     

    This is a Permanent position based out of Mojave, CA.

    Pay and Benefits

    The pay range for this position is $117000.00 - $200000.00/yr.

     

    health, dental, 401K, will receive all stratolaunch benefits

     

    Workplace Type

     

    This is a fully onsite position in Mojave,CA.

     

    Application Deadline

     

    This position is anticipated to close on Dec 13, 2025.

    About Actalent

    Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

     

    The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

     

    If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing due to a disability, please email [email protected] (%[email protected]) for other accommodation options.