Aerospace & Defense TN Sponsorship Jobs in California

INTRODUCTION

This role will design and develop complex mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment, working across cross-functional engineering teams to validate system integrations and support manufacturability from design through qualification testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop complex mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for flight and ground equipment
• Validate mechanical and fluid systems through structural and thermal analyses, using classical engineering methods and advanced simulation tools
• Create detailed manufacturing drawings incorporating GD&T (ASME Y14.5) standards
• Interface with cross-functional engineering teams to verify system integrations meet requirements and performance metrics
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers and external machine shops to ensure components are optimized for manufacturability and assembly
• Build test plans, oversee qualification testing, and analyze data for mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems
• Present engineering solutions and analysis results during cross-departmental design reviews
• Investigate and resolve non-conformances and failures through root cause analysis

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience in mechanical or aerospace industries
• Proficiency in CAD modeling and creating drawings with SolidWorks (or similar)
• Experience working with PDM/PLM tools
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals, including mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics
• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end design and sizing of mechanical structures, thermal management systems, and fluid routing components
• Demonstrated experience with GD&T and traditional manufacturing processes
• Experience working with Finite Element Analysis in FEMAP/Nastran (or similar)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Demonstrated experience designing highly loaded/lightweight structural components (including composite and metallic)
• Demonstrated experience with coupled thermo-mechanical systems, active thermal management solutions, and high-pressure fluid routing for extreme environments
• Expert-level use of Finite Element Analysis tools

WHAT WE OFFER!

• Relocation assistance
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents)
• Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances
• Parental leave
• Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) matching up to 6%
• Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field
• Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride
• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields

COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Criminal background check clearance
• Drug test clearance wherever applicable

The base salary range for this role is $135,000 - 160,000, which is determined based on experience, geography, and qualifications. The base salary is one component of the total compensation package, which includes a very competitive annual bonus, 401K Match, and other generous benefits. While we believe competitive compensation is a critical aspect of your decision to join us, we do hope you also spend time considering why our mission and culture are right for you.

SMS Text Messaging (10DLC Compliance)
LTA RESEARCH may communicate with applicants and users via SMS (text messaging) for purposes related to job applications, interview scheduling, and other recruitment updates. By providing your phone number through our application or contact forms, you consent to receive such communications.
We do not use SMS for marketing purposes, and we will never sell, rent, or share your phone number with third parties for their promotional use.
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LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve. Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.