Vehicle Configuration Design Engineer

About the role

Mach is building autonomous defense platforms and seeks a design engineer to shape the architecture of future unmanned aircraft and missiles. You will translate mission needs into functional vehicle layouts while balancing performance, cost, and manufacturing requirements.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Translate mission requirements into viable aircraft and missile concepts.
• Perform first-order sizing and multidisciplinary trade studies to define vehicle architectures.
• Balance competing design factors including aerodynamics, propulsion, structural efficiency, and mission effectiveness.
• Drive system-level integration across engineering disciplines during the early development phase.
• Collaborate with Air Vehicle Design Engineers to evolve concepts into preliminary CAD models.
• Identify technical risks and provide data-driven recommendations to leadership.
• Support the full development lifecycle from initial design through prototype integration and flight testing.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in conceptual design, vehicle sizing, and configuration development for aircraft, missiles, or unmanned vehicles.
• Proficiency in aircraft or missile performance, aerodynamics, propulsion, and systems integration.
• Ability to make system-level decisions while managing technical constraints.
• Experience presenting technical analyses to multidisciplinary teams and leadership.

Nice to have

• Master degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with MDAO methodologies and design optimization techniques.
• Background in taking advanced aerospace vehicles from concept through flight test.
• Familiarity with high-speed, high-altitude, or low-observable design.
• Proficiency in CAD software such as NX, CATIA, or Creo.

Skills & tools

• Aircraft and missile conceptual design
• Multidisciplinary trade studies
• Vehicle sizing
• Systems integration
• CAD (NX, CATIA, or Creo)

Practical notes

This role requires access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including EAR and ITAR. Offers may be contingent upon your ability to access such technology without an export license. Mach uses E-Verify to confirm employment authorization. The company provides health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.