Mechanical Design Engineer I/II - Missiles (Melbourne)
The Mechanical Design Engineer I/II at Confidential Client is responsible for designing, prototyping, integrating, and testing mechanical components and assemblies for advanced missile interceptor systems. This hands-on role involves working closely with cross-functional teams to translate aerospace concepts into manufacturable flight hardware, participating in prototype fabrication, field testing, and iterative design improvements. The position offers early-career engineers the opportunity to gain broad engineering experience in a dynamic defense technology environment, emphasizing ownership and practical problem-solving.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
About the Role
Confidential Client is hiring a Mechanical Design Engineer (Level I/II) to join a small R&D team building constrained aerospace systems. This hands-on role combines CAD design, prototype fabrication, integration, and field test support. You will move designs from SolidWorks to the workbench, collaborate with machinists and technicians, participate in prototype assembly and range testing, and iterate on real hardware.
Location: Eau Gallie, FL — On-site
Employment type: Full-time
Compensation: $75,000–$110,000 per year + equity
Level: Mechanical Design Engineer I or II (based on experience and demonstrated ability)
Reports to: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer / CTO
What You’ll Do
- Design mechanical parts, assemblies, and subsystems using SolidWorks.
- Develop lightweight structures, brackets, mounts, mechanisms, propulsion interfaces, and prototype tooling.
- Translate performance and packaging requirements into manufacturable hardware with senior engineers and aerodynamic specialists.
- Integrate flight computers, cameras, sensors, batteries, actuators, power electronics, wiring, and connectors into compact electromechanical assemblies.
- Support vehicle mass properties, center-of-gravity calculations, structural analysis, and packaging optimization.
- Design for vibration, shock, thermal effects, stiffness, accessibility, and field serviceability.
- Use CNC machining, additive manufacturing, composites, bonded assemblies, and other processes to develop components.
- Produce detailed engineering drawings, tolerances, GD&T, BOMs, and manufacturing documentation.
- Apply DFM/DFA practices to transition prototypes toward repeatable production.
- Perform engineering calculations, basic FEA, tolerance analyses, and physical validation testing.
- Design fixtures, jigs, assembly tools, and test equipment.
- Participate directly in prototype fabrication, assembly, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and teardown.
- Investigate hardware failures, implement design improvements, and verify fixes through testing.
- Collaborate with machinists, technicians, suppliers, electrical and software engineers, and flight-test personnel.
- Take increasing ownership of mechanical subsystems from initial design through build, test, and iteration.
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline by start date — or equivalent demonstrated practical engineering experience.
- 0–4 years of mechanical design or product-development experience. Internships, co-ops, research, student teams, and significant personal projects count.
- Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (parts, assemblies, parametric modeling).
- Working knowledge of mechanical drawings, dimensioning, tolerances, fits, and basic GD&T.
- Solid fundamentals in statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fasteners, joints, and material selection.
- Hands-on experience assembling, modifying, fabricating, or troubleshooting physical hardware.
- Familiarity with common hand tools, measurement instruments, prototype-shop practices, and manufacturing processes.
- Ability to reason from first principles, solve new problems, communicate technical decisions, and learn from test results.
- Willingness to work on-site in Eau Gallie, FL and participate directly in hardware integration and testing.
Particularly Valuable Experience
- Aerospace hardware, UAVs, experimental aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, robotics, motorsports, or other highly constrained mechanical systems.
- Formula SAE, Baja SAE, AIAA Design/Build/Fly, collegiate rocketry, robotics competitions, or similar student/team engineering experience.
- Hands-on CNC machining, 3D printing, carbon-fiber, fiberglass, composites, bonded assemblies, or prototype fabrication.
- Structural FEA using SolidWorks Simulation, ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or comparable tools.
- Electromechanical integration with cameras, sensors, embedded computers, servos, wiring, or power electronics.
- Experience with PDM/PLM, revision control, BOM management, and configuration control.
- Direct experience working with machine shops, prototype vendors, and manufacturing technicians.
- Active U.S. Government security clearance (TS or TS/SCI) preferred for some programs but not required for initial consideration.
Who Thrives Here
You enjoy SolidWorks but are most excited when parts hit the bench. You prioritize designs that can be built, serviced, and survive testing. You’ve built things outside of classes — race cars, rockets, drones, or robots — and you bring that curiosity and ownership to your work. You want mentorship from experienced aerospace engineers and real responsibility across the full engineering lifecycle.
How to Stand Out
- Include 2–5 examples of hardware you personally designed, fabricated, assembled, modified, or tested (CAD screenshots, photos, drawings, fixtures, student-team projects, portfolios).
- Describe what you built, the challenges you faced, what failed, and how you fixed it.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience and ownership outweigh a long list of credentials.
Export Control & Requirements
This position involves access to ITAR-controlled defense articles, technical data, and flight hardware. Candidates must qualify as a U.S. person under 22 CFR 120.62. Travel for customer support and field deployments may be required (CONUS and OCONUS), subject to program and export-control rules.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.
To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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