The RoleMach Industries is seeking a New Graduate Vehicle Performance Engineer to support the analysis, design, and optimization of next-generation autonomous defense systems. Depending on your experience and interests, you may contribute to aerodynamics, aerothermal analysis, thermal systems, vehicle performance, trajectory analysis, or multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO).
You will work alongside engineers across vehicle design, propulsion, structures, GNC, systems, and test to evaluate vehicle concepts, understand key performance drivers, and guide engineering decisions. This role is ideal for an analytically strong engineer who enjoys solving multidisciplinary problems and using modeling, simulation, and test data to improve real-world vehicle performance.
Key Responsibilities- Analyze the aerodynamic, aerothermal, thermal, and mission-level performance of aircraft, missiles, and other autonomous defense platforms.
- Develop analytical models and simulation tools to evaluate vehicle performance across operating conditions and mission profiles.
- Perform aerodynamic and thermal analyses using computational, reduced-order, and first-principles methods.
- Support vehicle sizing, configuration development, trajectory analysis, and multidisciplinary design trade studies.
- Evaluate the effects of geometry, mass properties, propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal constraints, and control requirements on overall vehicle performance.
- Build and improve MDAO frameworks that connect multiple engineering disciplines and accelerate design-space exploration.
- Use Python, MATLAB, or similar tools to automate analyses, process data, and communicate technical results.
- Support CFD, conjugate heat transfer, thermal network, or other physics-based modeling activities.
- Correlate analytical and simulation results with wind-tunnel, ground-test, environmental-test, or flight-test data.
- Collaborate with vehicle design, propulsion, structures, GNC, systems, software, manufacturing, and test teams.
- Clearly communicate assumptions, technical risks, performance trades, and recommendations to the broader engineering team.
- Develop tools, processes, and documentation that improve the speed and repeatability of vehicle analysis.
Required Qualifications - Bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field.
- Graduating with a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree by summer 2027.
- Technical experience gained through internships, research, academic projects, student teams, or professional roles.
- Foundational understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, flight mechanics, numerical methods, or vehicle performance.
- Experience using MATLAB, Python, or a similar technical computing language.
- Experience developing analytical models, running simulations, or analyzing engineering data.
- Ability to communicate technical results and work effectively across engineering disciplines.
- Ability to work on-site in Huntington Beach, California.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience in one or more of the following areas: aerodynamics, CFD, aerothermal analysis, thermal management, flight performance, trajectory analysis, vehicle sizing, or MDAO.
- Experience with CFD or thermal-analysis tools such as ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter, or equivalent software.
- Familiarity with aerodynamic database development, stability and control derivatives, or flight-performance modeling.
- Experience with steady-state or transient heat-transfer analysis, conjugate heat transfer, electronics cooling, or environmental testing.
- Experience developing multidisciplinary optimization workflows or integrating models across aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, mass properties, and GNC.
- Familiarity with optimization, uncertainty quantification, surrogate modeling, design of experiments, or statistical analysis.
- Experience correlating simulations with wind-tunnel, laboratory, environmental, or flight-test data.
- Participation in technical student teams such as Design/Build/Fly, rocketry, Formula SAE, UAV, CubeSat, or autonomous vehicle organizations.
Additional Requirements- Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
ITAR RequirementsTo 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. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Engineer
$115,000-$130,000 USD
At Mach, we believe that compensation is more than just a paycheck. It's a comprehensive package designed to reward the time, skills, and expertise you bring to our team. We are committed to offering competitive compensation that is equitable, transparent, and aligned with market trends.
Key Elements of Our Compensation Philosophy:
- Competitive Salaries: We continuously research market rates to ensure our salaries are competitive with those in our industry and geographic location.
- Performance-Based Incentives: Our bonus structure is tied to both individual and company performance, creating a win-win scenario that motivates our team members to excel.
- Equity Participation: We offer stock options or equity to employees, ensuring that you share in the success and growth of the company.
- Benefit Packages: Our benefits include healthcare, dental and vision plans, retirement savings, and paid time off, because we understand that your well-being extends beyond the office.
- Professional Development: We allocate funds for continuing education, training, and career growth.
- Transparency: We are committed to openness about our compensation tiers and how decisions are made, ensuring trust and mutual respect.
By joining Mach, you're not just accepting a job-you're becoming a key part of a team that values your contributions and invests in your growth. Together, we aim to create a rewarding environment that sets the stage for long-term success.
Data PrivacyTo view Mach Industries candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://machindustries.com/privacy-policy.
DisclosuresThis position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Please note that any offer for employment may be conditioned on authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export control laws and regulations without sponsorship for an export license.
Mach participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offers may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and training, critical skills, and business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in most offers and are considered part of Mach's total compensation package. Mach offers benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development.
