Weapon System Mechanical Engineer with Security Clearance

Job Description 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. Experience and Skills 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 Job Benefits * Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage * Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance * 401(k) Savings Plan * Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) * Paid Time-Off (PTO) * Holidays * Education Reimbursement