Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

M4 Engineering is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to support the design and development of aerospace structures and components. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of fundamental engineering principles, extensive experience with aerospace mechanical and structural design, and demonstrated expertise in composite part design and manufacturing.

The engineer will be responsible for developing designs from initial concepts through detailed design, manufacturing, assembly, and integration. This position requires the ability to work independently, solve complex engineering problems, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

The position requires an on-site presence in Oxnard, CA, either three days per week or on an alternating schedule of one week on-site and one week remote, for approximately 8-10 months.

Responsibilities

• Design aerospace mechanical and structural components and assemblies based on specified and derived requirements
• Develop detailed designs of composite and metallic structures, considering performance, weight, manufacturability, and cost
• Design composite parts, including laminate definition, ply orientation, layup schedules, and manufacturing considerations
• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles to composite fabrication, machining, assembly, and integration
• Perform classical engineering hand calculations and basic finite element analysis (FEA) to support design decisions
• Apply fundamental engineering principles, including mechanics of materials, structural mechanics, and material properties, to develop practical engineering solutions
• Develop 3D CAD models, assemblies, and detailed manufacturing drawings using Siemens NX
• Prepare manufacturing drawings to ASME Y14.5 standards, including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Select appropriate materials, fasteners, hardware, and manufacturing processes based on structural, functional, and environmental requirements
• Coordinate with structural analysis, materials, manufacturing, and other engineering disciplines to ensure designs meet project requirements
• Modify designs based on structural analysis results, manufacturing capabilities, cost, and assembly requirements
• Hold design reviews and technical presentations to communicate design approaches and gain feedback
• Support fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing of components and systems
• Troubleshoot manufacturing and assembly issues and develop practical solutions
• Create and maintain bills of materials (BOMs), engineering documentation, and design records
• Manage multiple engineering tasks, work independently, and consistently meet project deadlines

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Minimum 7 years of mechanical or structural design experience, preferably in the aerospace industry
• Strong understanding of fundamental engineering principles and the ability to apply first-principles reasoning to engineering problems
• Experience designing aerospace structures and mechanical components
• Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD
• Experience with composite part design, including laminate and layup definition
• Understanding of composite manufacturing processes and design considerations for fabrication, assembly, and integration
• Experience designing machined metallic components and assemblies
• Experience selecting materials, fasteners, and mechanical hardware
• Working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 standards and GD&T
• Ability to perform engineering hand calculations to support structural and mechanical design decisions
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Effective communication skills and experience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Ability to work on-site in Oxnard, CA, either three days per week or alternating one week on-site and one week remote, for approximately 8-10 months
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card) required

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced experience with Siemens NX, including complex part and assembly modeling
• Experience with aerospace composite structures, including bonded and mechanically fastened assemblies
• Experience with composite tooling and manufacturing processes
• Experience designing aircraft primary or secondary structures
• Experience with aircraft landing gear systems, hydraulic actuators, or other aerospace mechanical systems
• Experience with finite element analysis and structural verification
• Experience supporting hardware through fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing