NX Design Engineer, Gas Turbine Propulsion
Orange County, CA · U.S. Persons Only
THE OPPORTUNITY
The company is developing compact gas turbine engines built to hit demanding performance targets at a fraction of the size and cost of legacy designs. This is a hands-on role for a design engineer who can take a mechanical design from a blank sheet through to a producible part — someone who is genuinely excellent at CAD (NX strongly preferred), with a real track record of designing complex mechanical assemblies, ideally backed by a portfolio or patents that show what they've owned. Direct experience with rotating machinery, turbomachinery, or jet engines is a real plus and helps you ramp quickly, but the core bar is CAD depth and assembly-design ownership in a lean, fast-moving environment where engineers cover more ground than they would at a larger company. No new-grad or intern-level openings at this time. Must be a U.S. person.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own engine components from initial concept through sustained production support
- Work within a lean, high-ownership team building propulsion hardware at production scale
- Create 3D geometry and complete mechanical assemblies for engine components, including rotating assemblies
- Optimize designs for thrust-to-weight ratio and manufacturability (DFx)
- Support structural analysis, fatigue modeling, and life estimation as needed, partnering with the analysis team where appropriate
- Collaborate closely with other engineers and the manufacturing team to refine designs for production
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Expert-level proficiency in CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, CREO, CATIA, Onshape, Fusion 360, or Polyworks (NX strongly preferred)
- 5–7+ years designing complex mechanical assemblies in a professional engineering environment — turbomachinery, jet engine, or high-speed rotating machinery experience is valued but not the only path in
- Demonstrated ownership of designs from concept through production, ideally supported by a portfolio or patents
- Experience with the materials, alloys, and manufacturing methods relevant to precision mechanical components
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, resource-constrained team environment, wearing multiple hats
Preferred
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or equivalent practical experience)
- Direct experience with jet turbines, UAS platforms, or other directly relevant propulsion programs
- Hands-on experience running cold-flow and hot-fire testing on experimental turbomachinery hardware
- Experience with turbomachinery test rig development
- Familiarity with Teamcenter or Windchill
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary range of $150,000–$180,000 USD (final amount dependent on a variety of factors). All roles include a generous equity package plus:
- Comprehensive platinum-tier medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost to the employee
- Basic Life/AD&D and long-term disability insurance, fully covered by the company
- Unlimited PTO
- On-site lunch and a fully stocked kitchen
- Relocation assistance available depending on role eligibility
- 401(k) Savings Plan