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Senior Mechanical Engineer

Wardstone
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El Segundo$140k - $170kFull-timePosted 6d ago

About the role

You will own major structural and mechanical subsystems on the interceptor, from concept through flight hardware, with hands-on design, analysis, fabrication, and testing in a fast-moving startup environment.

Responsibilities

  • Design subsystems: Own the design of assigned structures and mechanisms from requirements through flight hardware; perform structural, vibration, shock, and thermal analysis including hand calculations and FEA; produce production-ready CAD models and drawings with GD&T; contribute to vehicle-level work (OML trades, loads analysis, mass properties).
  • Integrate with other teams: Collaborate with propulsion and aerodynamics on thermal loads, structural margins, and interfaces; coordinate with electrical and controls to package, route, and mount avionics, harnesses, and actuators.
  • Build and test: Select materials and processes (composites, high-strength alloys, high-temperature materials); work with vendors and machine shops; design test fixtures and rigs; run structural and environmental tests; build/modify hardware in-house.
  • Help raise the bar: Present work in design reviews; review others’ work; help shape team practices; mentor junior engineers.

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
  • 5+ years of experience designing flight or high-load hardware
  • Has owned at least one subsystem from design through test
  • Strong CAD skills including complex assemblies and GD&T
  • Strong structural analysis skills including hand calculations and FEA for static, dynamic, and vibration loads
  • Material selection experience for high-stress aerospace applications
  • Comfortable hands-on with hardware in shop and test environments
  • Must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) and eligible to obtain a U.S. security clearance.

Skills

Required:Subsystem ownershipCAD (complex assemblies, drawings, GD&T)Structural analysis (hand calculations, FEA)Material selection for high-stress aerospace
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Wardstone

Satellites for Missile Defense

Wardstone is a space defense-tech company developing next-generation capabilities to protect the United States and its allies from missiles and other space-based threats. We design, build, and deploy satellites equipped with space-based interceptors to kinetically counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles.

space-explorationsatellitesrocketryaerospace
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