Director, Avionics Mechanical Engineering

A venture-backed defense technology company building intelligent, autonomous aircraft and the software that flies them. Our products protect service members and civilians, and our technology supports operations worldwide.About the roleWe’re hiring a Director of Avionics Mechanical Engineering to build and lead the organization responsible for all mechanical, thermal, and harnessing (EWIS) design for a next-generation uncrewed combat aircraft and its ground equipment. You’ll set technical strategy and org structure, develop managers and technical leads, and be accountable for delivering flight-critical electro-mechanical hardware from concept through production. As a senior member of the avionics leadership team, you’ll partner with engineering, program, and operations leaders on architecture, schedule, and resourcing. This is not an IC role, but you must have done hands-on design earlier in your career so you can define what “right” looks like.What you’ll doOwn the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap for mechanical, thermal, and EWIS engineering across flight and ground avionicsBuild and scale a multi-team organization: hire and develop managers and leads, define org structure, and plan headcountDeliver complex electro-mechanical hardware that survives harsh environments, from architecture through qualification and productionSet engineering standards, design review practices, and processes for thermal, mechanical, and harness designAct as final technical authority on key mechanical and thermal architecture tradeoffs, and escalate risk with clear recommendationsPartner with electrical, RF, PCB, reliability, structures, supply chain, and manufacturing leadersOwn resourcing, schedule commitments, supplier and contract manufacturer strategy, and make-vs-buy decisionsBuild a culture of extreme ownership, technical rigor, and accountabilityRequired qualificationsB.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering15+ years of mechanical design experience around electronics and electrical systems, including hands-on early-career work on enclosures, thermal solutions, and harness integration5+ years of people leadership, including managing managers or multiple engineering teamsProven record of building and scaling engineering teams through rapid growthRecord of delivering complex avionics or electro-mechanical hardware from concept through productionDeep fluency in avionics packaging, FEA, thermal analysis, and fatigue and lifecycle testingExperience setting engineering strategy, standards, and processes across an organizationExperience managing fabrication shops, contract manufacturers, and key suppliersAbility to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting prioritiesAbility to obtain a Secret security clearance

Is this the next step in your career Find out if you are the right candidate by reading through the complete overview below.
Preferred qualificationsExperience leading hardware teams on aircraft, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or defense platformsBackground in high-rate production (satellites, EV power electronics, autonomous vehicles)Experience with DO-160, MIL-STD-810, or similar environmental qualification standards
Compensation: $265,000 – $398,000 base, plus bonus, benefits, and equity. xzbcwsv Offers are contingent on a cleared background check.