Principal Mechanical Engineer

About the Role

Join a small defense technology team developing autonomous directed-energy systems for counter-drone applications. As Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will own system-wide mechanical architecture and help take complex hardware from prototype through production and field deployment.

What You'll Do

• Lead mechanical architecture and integration across electrical, power, embedded, and optics subsystems.
• Make technical decisions on challenging hardware problems from concept through production readiness.
• Guide hardware release and production processes in partnership with manufacturing teams.
• Review designs, calculations, and test results to identify risks early and maintain high engineering standards.
• Personally execute mechanical design work when your experience can resolve a problem quickly.
• Balance cost, mass, reliability, schedule, and field performance in design and manufacturing decisions.
• Mentor engineers through hands-on technical leadership and design reviews.

What We're Looking For

• 10 or more years designing and shipping complex hardware systems, including multiple transitions from prototype through manufacturing and deployment.
• Mechanical engineering is your primary discipline, with recent hands-on experience in CAD, structures, mechanisms, and packaging.
• Deep mechanical expertise and sound judgment in at least one additional area, such as electrical engineering, power electronics, or embedded systems.
• Experience leading full-system hardware integration and designing equipment for demanding real-world environments.
• Ability to correlate FEA or hand calculations with bench or field test data.
• Background as a senior individual contributor or technical lead at a hardware organization that shipped products.
• Experience in defense hardware, aerospace, robotics, high-performance automotive, maritime, or a related field is valuable. Directed energy, laser or high-power systems, thermal management, ruggedized equipment, and manufacturing scale-up experience are also relevant.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $235,000 to $305,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

On-site in San Francisco, California, United States.