Mechanical Engineer

About Aventra Aventra Defense Systems is a defense technology company developing and delivering autonomous aerial systems for the U.S. government and allied partners. We operate at the intersection of advanced hardware, software, and national security — designing, building, and fielding systems that perform in the world’s most demanding environments.   We are a mission-driven team moving at startup speed with defense-grade accountability. Our programs span contracted deliveries, government demonstrations, and ongoing system development — and our pace reflects the urgency of the problems we’re solving. Position Overview & Key Responsibilities Position Overview Aventra Defense Systems is seeking a mid-level Mechanical Engineer to own the design and productization of subsystems within our Piranha high-altitude platform — from early prototype through a field-ready, producible design. This is a hands-on, individual-contributor role with clear subsystem ownership: you'll take a specific piece of the system and drive it from where it stands today toward a production-ready product. Just imagine seeing the hardware you designed flying in the stratosphere. Key Responsibilities Subsystem Design - Turn product requirements documents into reality! Own the mechanical design of an assigned high-altitude subsystem, building on and leveling up existing prototypes. - Conduct rigorous FEA (structural, thermal, and vibration) to ensure your designs survive the extreme temperatures and dynamic loads of high-altitude flight. - Design for reliability, manufacturability (DFM), and cost at the subsystem level. - Experience the joy of rapid iteration—design a part in CAD, 3D print it in our shop, and have a finished prototype in your hands days later to test. - Run bench-level and field testing to validate performance across extreme environmental and altitude conditions utilizing thermal/vacuum chambers and strain gauges to make sure your design works. - Design and implement tests across a variety of systems and environments. - Peer review other engineers' work. - Conduct trade studies to understand the state of the art and industry best practices. Integration & Test - Integrate your subsystems with electrical, aero, and software teams. - Assist with flight test instrumentation setup and post-test data collection. - Help maintain test equipment, fixtures, and lab organization. - Test your design in the field and watch it fly! Productization and Manufacturing - Drive the transition from a working prototype to a rugged, field-ready, producible design. - Perform detailed tolerance stack-up analysis and apply GD&T to ensure complex assemblies fit flawlessly every time they come off the line. - Identify and resolve manufacturing, sourcing, and reliability bottlenecks before they reach production. - Support production handoff and work closely with machinists and external vendors to get your hardware built. Integration & Iteration - Coordinate seamlessly with electrical, software, and aero teams, packaging complex avionics and integrating actuation, control, and sensor feedback interfaces. - Assist with flight test instrumentation setup, post-test data collection, and lab organization. - Test your design in the field and watch it fly! - Dive into post-flight test data to root-cause anomalies, then rapidly incorporate field feedback into iterative design improvements. Documentation & Process - Maintain accurate models, drawings, BOMs, and design documentation - Support design review processes and component sourcing research - Analyze and learn from failures and document so the organization doesn't have to learn the same lesson twice. Qualifications Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field - 3-6 years of industry experience in mechanical design, ideally including high-altitude, pneumatic/fluidic, or release/deployment mechanisms - Proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks or OnShape, with a demonstrable portfolio of designs you've taken from concept through hardware - Hands-on prototyping and testing experience - US Citizen with ability to obtain and maintain security clearance Preferred Qualifications - Experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries - Exposure to embedded systems or sensor integration - Startup or small-company experience - Familiarity with relevant military standards Aventra Defense Systems, Inc is a venture-backed startup building scalable, precision-guided capabilities for the next generation of combat. We are assembling a team of engineers and operators who believe in speed, simplicity, and delivering real capability to the field—not just PowerPoint slides.