Director, Avionics Mechanical Engineering

A venture-backed defense technology company building intelligent, autonomous aircraft and the software that flies them. Our products protect service members and civilians, and our technology supports operations worldwide.

About the role

We’re hiring a Director of Avionics Mechanical Engineering to build and lead the organization responsible for all mechanical, thermal, and harnessing (EWIS) design for a next-generation uncrewed combat aircraft and its ground equipment. You’ll set technical strategy and org structure, develop managers and technical leads, and be accountable for delivering flight-critical electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production. As a senior member of the avionics leadership team, you’ll partner with engineering, program, and operations leaders on architecture, schedule, and resourcing. This is not an IC role, but you must have done hands-on design earlier in your career so you can define what “right” looks like.

What you’ll do

• Own the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for mechanical, thermal, and EWIS engineering across flight and ground avionics
• Build and scale a multi-team organization: hire and develop managers and leads, define org structure, and plan headcount
• Deliver complex electro-mechanical hardware that survives harsh environments, from architecture through qualification and production
• Set engineering standards, design review practices, and processes for thermal, mechanical, and harness design
• Act as final technical authority on key mechanical and thermal architecture tradeoffs, and escalate risk with clear recommendations
• Partner with electrical, RF, PCB, reliability, structures, supply chain, and manufacturing leaders
• Own resourcing, schedule commitments, supplier and contract manufacturer strategy, and make-vs-buy decisions
• Build a culture of extreme ownership, technical rigor, and accountability

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 15+ years of mechanical design experience around electronics and electrical systems, including hands-on early-career work on enclosures, thermal solutions, and harness integration
• 5+ years of people leadership, including managing managers or multiple engineering teams
• Proven record of building and scaling engineering teams through rapid growth
• Record of delivering complex avionics or electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production
• Deep fluency in avionics packaging, FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue and lifecycle testing
• Experience setting engineering strategy, standards, and processes across an organization
• Experience managing fabrication shops, contract manufacturers, and key suppliers
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance

Preferred qualifications

• Experience leading hardware teams on aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or defense platforms
• Background in high-rate production (satellites, EV power electronics, autonomous vehicles)
• Experience with DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or similar environmental qualification standards

Compensation: $265,000 – $398,000 base, plus bonus, benefits, and equity. Offers are contingent on a cleared background check.