Approach Venture

Overview

The Mechanical & Structural Engineer role involves owning the mechanical architecture and structural integrity of a next-generation interceptor platform, managing vehicle hardware from early design through testing and integration. The company is a venture-backed defense technology firm focused on developing cost-effective interceptor systems for scalable production.

Responsibilities

• Own major mechanical and structural subsystems of the interceptor from concept through flight.
• Support overall vehicle sizing, structural architecture, and outer mold line implementation.
• Design primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, brackets, interfaces, and integrated assemblies.
• Develop and manage complex CAD models for the full vehicle and supporting hardware.
• Perform structural analysis including static, dynamic, vibration, shock, buckling, and other relevant flight load cases.
• Use hand calculations, FEA, and physical testing to efficiently size and validate structures.
• Analyze aerodynamic, launch, maneuver, thermal, and vibration environments.
• Define mechanical interfaces for propulsion, avionics, seekers, GNC, control actuation, and other vehicle subsystems.
• Own packaging, routing, mounting, and structural integration across the vehicle.
• Support actuator and control-surface integration including hinges, cutouts, interfaces, and sealing.
• Design launcher hardware, handling fixtures, transport equipment, environmental enclosures, and other ground support systems.
• Take parts from CAD through prototyping, fabrication, inspection, assembly, and test.
• Support hands-on machining and rapid prototyping using internal or external manufacturing resources.
• Select materials, processes, joining methods, and manufacturing approaches with performance, cost, and producibility in mind.
• Work directly with suppliers, machine shops, and manufacturing partners to procure and troubleshoot hardware.
• Lead or support vehicle integration, environmental testing, ground testing, and flight test campaigns.
• Analyze test data, investigate anomalies, and incorporate findings into subsequent design iterations.
• Produce and review detailed engineering drawings using GD&T and appropriate aerospace practices.
• Make practical design decisions that balance technical requirements with unit cost and production scalability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical or structural design experience with aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or similarly demanding hardware.
• Strong CAD proficiency with experience managing complex assemblies.
• Strong structural intuition and understanding of how to select between hand calculations, FEA, and physical testing.
• Experience with static, dynamic, vibration, or other structural analysis methods.
• Experience designing hardware for high-load or mission-critical environments.
• Strong understanding of metallic or composite structures, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience taking hardware from detailed design through fabrication, assembly, and test.
• Proficiency with GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Strong understanding of design for manufacturability and producibility.
• Hands-on fabrication, machining, or shop-floor experience.
• Ability to work effectively across aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, controls, manufacturing, and test teams.
• U.S. Person status required.

Additional Information

• Location: El Segundo, California | On-site