Weapon System Mechanical Engineer

Job Description:

Kratos Defense Rocket Support Services is seeking a highly capable mechanical engineer to lead the design, analysis, integration, testing, and production transition of weapon systems and flight-critical aerospace hardware. This position requires a strong foundation in mechanical design and analysis of high?temperature, complex flight environments; multidisciplinary coordination with electrical, RF, and systems engineering teams; and demonstrated leadership across a hardware product's full lifecycle from concept development through flight testing and into sustained production. May require up to 25% travel to support launch operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Lead mechanical design and analysis efforts for weapon system hardware, missile sub-assemblies and flight-critical components across design, fabrication, integration, and testing phases.
• Conduct and review structural, thermal and CFD analyses to validate hardware survivability, thermal management performance, and environmental robustness across full flight profiles.
• Define, execute, and manage hardware test plans, including survivability testing, environmental qualification and requirements verification for customer milestones.
• Evaluate airframe structures, radome/window materials, electronics housings, and mechanical interfaces for manufacturability, assembly efficiency, cost, and durability.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams supporting hardware development for weapon systems flight demonstration testing.
• Coordinate subsystem trade studies focusing on performance, cost, form factor, structural margin and integration risk to inform architecture and design decisions.
• Serve as technical interface with customers, program management, and senior leadership; preparing and delivering technical briefings, status reports, and milestone reviews.
• Lead risk identification and mitigation planning, performing technical and schedule risk assessments and advising program management on impacts and risk?reduction strategies.
• Support weapon system flight demonstrations by monitoring test events, analyzing post?flight performance data and generating test reports.
• Review component and part vendor capabilities for performance, cost competitiveness, and readiness for prototype and production hardware builds.
• Support transition of prototype weapon system hardware into manufacturable production ready configurations
• Mentor junior engineers in mechanical design practices, laboratory procedures, engineering tools, and professional development.

JOB SKILLS:
• Mechanical design and analysis of aerospace hardware for weapon systems environments.
• Structural, thermal, and CFD analysis experience supporting survivability and flight-environment evaluation
• Hands-on fabrication, assembly, integration, and testing of weapons system hardware.
• Development and execution of test plans, verification procedures and milestone briefings.
• Experience conducting subsystem trade studies involving performance, cost, manufacturability, and risk.
• Strong communication skills with customers, program managers, prime contractors, and military stakeholders.
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams through design, build and test lifecycles.
• Familiarity with antenna radome design, flight?structure materials, electronic system packaging and thermal management solutions.
• Ability to generate high-quality technical documentation, briefings, status reports, and risk assessments.
• Active DoD Secret Clearance

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
• BS in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
• 8+ years relevant professional experience