Senior Conceptual Design Engineer

Mach Industries is seeking a Conceptual Design Engineer to develop and mature next-generation unmanned aircraft and missile concepts from mission requirements through preliminary design. In this role, you will define vehicle architectures, perform first-order sizing and multidisciplinary trade studies, and guide system-level design decisions across aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, manufacturing, and mission systems. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving open-ended design problems, evaluating competing concepts, and shaping the overall direction of advanced aerospace vehicles.

Responsibilities

Lead conceptual design efforts by translating mission requirements into viable aircraft and missile concepts; Develop baseline vehicle architectures through first-order sizing, configuration development, and multidisciplinary trade studies; Evaluate competing design concepts by balancing aerodynamic performance, propulsion integration, structural efficiency, manufacturability, cost, and mission effectiveness, with awareness of survivability considerations where applicable; Drive system-level integration across aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, payloads, guidance, manufacturing, and other engineering disciplines throughout early vehicle development; Partner with Air Vehicle Design Engineers to mature conceptual designs into integrated vehicle layouts and preliminary CAD models; Identify technical risks, evaluate design alternatives, and provide data-driven recommendations throughout the design process; Present vehicle concepts, engineering trade studies, and technical recommendations to engineering leadership and program stakeholders; Support vehicle development from conceptual design through preliminary design, prototype integration, and flight testing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; 5+ years of experience developing aircraft, missile, or unmanned vehicle concepts through conceptual design, vehicle sizing, configuration development, and multidisciplinary trade studies; Strong understanding of aircraft or missile performance, aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and systems integration; Demonstrated ability to make system-level design decisions while balancing competing technical requirements and program constraints; Experience communicating technical analyses and design recommendations to multidisciplinary engineering teams and technical leadership.

Nice to have

Master's or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; Experience with multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) methodologies and design optimization techniques; Experience developing UAS, missile, or other advanced aerospace vehicles from concept through prototype development or flight test; Familiarity with high-speed, high-altitude, or low-observable vehicle design; Working knowledge of CAD tools such as NX, CATIA, or Creo to support conceptual layouts and vehicle integration.

Benefits

Health insurance; Retirement plans; Opportunities for professional development; Highly competitive equity grants