Mechanical Engineer (Processes)
Location
Gardena, CA
Posted on August 25, 2026
Location
Gardena, CA
Posted on August 25, 2026
About The Company
We are a stealth-mode Aerospace & Defense startup headquartered in Gardena, CA. Our founding team hails from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin, and we are backed by Joint Staff-level military leadership and several Silicon Valley firms. With a world-class business development & leadership team already in place, we are well positioned to capitalize on already overwhelming demand.
Role Overview
We are seeking a skilled mechanical engineer with a strong background in developing special processes. An ideal candidate can straddle mechanical design and process development from concept through production ramp. Conducting trade-studies to drive design changes with DFM and bring-up internal manufacturing capabilities will be the central focus of the role. Help establish the company’s standards for process control and test criteria and execute on CapEx plans to enable product launch and ramp.
Responsibilities
Design hardware and develop manufacturing processes to enable low cost, high reliability systems Own the bring-up of internal manufacturing processes including welding, fastening, adhesives, coatings, heat treatments, assembly, etc Establish company standards for controlling manufacturing processes in production and the associated test requirements necessary to ensure product life expectancy Co-develop product requirements to drive business direction in CapEx and make vs buy strategies Create detailed models and engineering drawings in SOLIDWORKS Conduct rigorous testing and iteration cycles to ensure reliability and robust performance across all environments and operational scenarios Continuously develop manufacturing processes to achieve high-rate, high-yield, and dependable production. Establish and manage an effective product lifecycle, from supply chain sourcing through final assembly and integration, balancing cost efficiency, production complexity, and quality standards; closely coordinate with partner teams to develop and operate an optimized in-house manufacturing line.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in mechanical or manufacturing engineering or a related technical discipline 3-10 years of hands-on project experience developing manufacturing processes Experience with trade-studies to direct business decisions through development campaigns Proficient in 3D CAD (SOLIDWORKS preferred) Familiarity with different welding, fasteners, and special processes and the associated qualifications for different materials and different production rates Ability to manage large assembly models and drawings Solid understanding and application of GD&T, mechanical engineering fundamentals, and failure modes of complex mechanical systems Prior ownership of a complex manufacturing process with knowledge of how to introduce a process from scratch into production Familiarity with manufacturing processes and how to design for manufacturability Exposure to a variety of production machinery, industrial sensors, and equipment (motion systems, dispense systems, temperature controllers, laser distance sensors, injection molders, die casters, etc.) Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Additional Requirements
Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Itar
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C.
1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across California currently run a median of $33/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $27–$40/hr across 395 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.
Gardena, CA currently has 3 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 3 employers. None of them were added in the last week, so this is a slower-moving market. Across California as a whole we're tracking 596 other active welding openings from 294 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Gardena, or widen the search to California.
Singularity Defense currently has 1 other opening live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.
The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (34), Aerotek (16), and Volt (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.
Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Santa Ana at $48/hr, Los Angeles at $45/hr, and El Segundo at $38/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.
Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mechanical Engineer (Processes) figures were last recalculated when this page was built.