Mechanical Design Engineer

STARK

ABOUT US STARK is a new kind of defence technology company, revolutionizing the way autonomous systems are deployed across multiple domains. We design, develop and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are software-defined, mass-scalable, and cost-effective. This provides our operators with a decisive edge in highly contested environments. We’re focused on delivering deployable, high-performance systems. In a time of rising threats, STARK is bolstering the technological edge of NATO Allies and their Partners to deter aggression and defend Europe. YOUR MISSION As a Mechanical Design Engineer at STARK, you will be the architectural force behind the physical hardware that carries our cognitive core into the field. You will lead the design and development of complex components and assemblies, translating ambitious technical concepts into operational products that can withstand the rigors of contested environments. You will work hand-in-hand with our systems, stress, and electrical engineering teams, pairing rigorous mechanical design with rapid hardware iteration. You will be responsible for navigating fast-paced engineering projects with tight deadlines, ensuring that every bracket, housing, and structural element is optimized for performance and mass-scalability. This role is about ownership and leadership: taking a product from an initial whiteboard concept to a final, production-ready state. You will not just be making drawings; you will be defining the physical standards of the next generation of autonomous defence technology. RESPONSIBILITIES * CAD Development: Create and maintain high-fidelity models, assemblies, and detailed technical drawings using CATIA V5/V6 within the 3DEXPERIENCE environment. * Standards & Precision: Define and enforce best practices for parametric modeling, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and complex tolerance stack-ups to ensure assembly reliability. * Validation: Collaborate closely with stress engineers for load path validation and participate in critical Design Reviews (PDR/CDR) to ensure mission success. MANUFACTURING & PROCESS INTEGRATION * Material Selection: Drive decisive material and process selection, focusing on structural layout and manufacturability to meet aggressive weight and strength targets. * DFM/DfAM: Apply expert knowledge of Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication to streamline the transition from prototype to series production. * Tooling & Testing: Design and develop critical operating equipment and specialized test benches required to validate subsystems and accelerate program velocity. * Cross-Functional Coordination & Supply Chain * Interdisciplinary Alignment: Collaborate with Electrical Engineering, Production, and Procurement to translate abstract product requirements into measurable quality objectives and repeatable manufacturing processes. * Supplier Engagement: Oversee technical engagement with external suppliers for structural components and secondary assemblies, ensuring design intent is maintained through delivery. * Execution: Identify blockers in the design-to-production pipeline and proactively push issues to resolution to maintain program momentum. QUALIFICATIONS * Experience: 2+ years of experience as a CAD Engineer or Mechanical Design Engineer with a proven focus on manufacturing processes and complex assemblies. * Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a comparable technical field. High proficiency in CATIA V5 (Part Design, Assembly Design, Generative Shape Design). * Mindset: Mission-driven, decisive, and pragmatic. Thrives in ambiguity. You act like an owner and would rather build and iterate than wait for permission. * Communication: High proficiency (C1/C2) in both English and German, capable of communicating complex technical context to both local technicians and international leadership. * Security: Must be a citizen of a NATO member state (due to export control and security regulations).

SE3 Labs

Own the physical integration of our autonomy platform into drones, payloads and ground systems. Your work defines the fieldability, performance and production quality of our core hardware. ABOUT SE3 SE3 Labs is building Spatial AI by combining 3D computer vision with large language models (LLMs). We believe the ability to reason about and act within physical space is foundational to unlocking the next generation of automation, from construction to smart infrastructure, and with a strong focus on defense. Now, we’re building the physical platform to bring Spatial AI to life. That means high-performance, real-world robotic systems and we’re looking for a skilled, hands-on engineer who can turn strong concepts into robust products. ABOUT THE ROLE As Mechanical Design Engineer, Unmanned Systems, you’ll design the mechanisms, enclosures and physical integration of our on-board systems into various UAV platforms. From concept trade-off to CAD to flight test and on to production introduction, you will bring electronics, airframes, payloads and ground systems together into flying, connected and advanced multi-domain systems. You’ll report directly to our Hardware Lead and collaborate most closely with electronics developers and prototyping team. SE3 sets no bounds on collaboration so you will engage with our customer-facing colleagues and AI software developers to realize an ambitious vision of whole systems with intelligent drones at the center. Mechanical integration will be your domain, and you’ll be trusted to own it independently.   WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON * Requirements & Concepts: Translate mission-needs into hardware requirements and trade-off design concepts to meet them * Design & Engineer: Design and refine sealed avionics enclosures, cooling concepts, interfaces, connection and release mechanisms, packaging and integration into UAVs and ground systems such as charging-, control- and launch platforms * Prototype & Iterate: Build, rework, and test hardware with speed and precision, in simulation, test rigs and in flight * Validate & Field-Test: Analyze and improve designs via simulation and real-world testing up until and including exercises with partners and armed forces * Document and Industrialize: Make your work the lasting foundation of our tech and bring it into thousands of customers’ hands in collaboration with our manufacturing partner network   YOUR PROFILE * M.Sc. in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering or a related field * You bring 2+ years of hands-on experience in hardware design and development, ideally including mechanism design from concept to tested (sub-) system * You’re highly proficient in 3D modelling (CAD, preferably Onshape) and creating production-quality drawings * You’re familiar with selection and sizing of structural elements, fasteners, interfaces and thermal paths * You understand kinematics, packaging and electro-mechanical systems * You know when a simple answer is the right answer, and when a design needs deeper analysis, precision and careful consideration * You speak fluent English; German is a plus * Most importantly, you’re structured, fast-moving, and mission-driven. You don’t wait for perfection. You iterate until it works. You love building things that last.   ESPECIALLY VALUED BONUS SKILLS * Experience in designing lightweight electronic enclosures for harsh conditions * You’ve independently prototyped and tested mechanisms and seen them through refinement cycles into production * Experience with ISO GD&T, DFM/DFA, FEA interpretation and material selection * Thermal design and analysis for compact electronics or similar systems * Hardware testing & qualification experience (ideally including MIL-STD thermal, vibration, etc.) * Skilled in designing fixtures and test-rigs * Familiarity with light UAVs or aircraft systems or defense equipment   PERKS & BENEFITS * Work Environment to Excel at: Find a high-quality and modern toolset, flat hierarchy and a skilled, driven team which will push the limits together with you * AI-boosted workplace: We empower every employee with best-in-class AI tools and agents, giving you unlimited access to the latest advancements and a true productivity edge * Real Ownership: Get early, real stock to participate directly in SE3’s growth * 31 Paid Days Off: 30 vacation days plus your birthday off * Well-being Access: Free membership to gyms, yoga, and wellness through EGYM Wellpass * Team Offsites: We go on 2 company retreats per year, our last ones were in Italy, Greece and Spain * Mentorship: Work closely with experienced engineers and get paired with a professional mentor to support your growth   OUR PROCESS 1. Intro Call (20 min): Let’s get to know each other (conducted by our Talent Team) 2. Technical Interview (60 min): Diving deeper into your experience, skills and and engineering thought process with practical examples (with Lukas, our Hardware Lead) 3. Team Dinner/Lunch: See if it’s a culture fit on both sides

The Exploration Company

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. We want you as a talented Avionics Equipment Technical Owner to help us in our mission by designing, testing, and optimizing avionics equipment, ensuring compliance with mission loads and safety requirements. You will be successful in this role if you are able to help us: * Coordinate the internal design and development of avionics equipment in collaboration with our electronics, mechanical design, thermal and digital engineers * Perform functional validation and qualification of avionics equipment * Move units from first prototypes to Engineering Models, Qualification Models and Flight Models * Flow down and validate requirements to unit level KEY RESPONSIBILITIES In your capacity as an Avionics Equipment Technical Owner, your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include: 1. Point of contact and full responsible for one avionics unit 2. Owner of the equipment from concept and breadboard phase to flight model 3. Owner of unit documentation, ICDs and requirements 4. Owner of box level FDIR and FMEA 5. Coordination of all disciplines working on a unit (electronics design engineers, mechanical design engineers, system engineers, test team, EGSE team) 6. Coordination and run of test campaigns (EM, QM, FM) covering functional and environmental tests (vibe, shock, TVAC, EMC) with the environmental load specialists 7. Analysis of test data after test campaigns 8. Definition of roadmap for unit improvement (between models and between flights) 9. Closely working with functional chains (thermal, ECLSS, Propulsion, etc.) to plan system level tests with the units embedded 10. Continuous Learning: Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and advancements in avionics design WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FROM YOU In the role of Avionics Equipment Technical Owner ideally, you will have the following: * Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field * Hands-on experience in avionics equipment design, with a focus on aerospace applications or a related field * Proficiency in avionics design tools and software * Understanding of space relevant standards (like ECSS, MIL-STD, NASA-HBK) and regulations * Knowledge of safety-critical design principles * Familiarity with Reliability, Availability, Maintainability & Safety (RAMS) aspects : Failure Mode, Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault/Failure Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR), etc… * Familiarity with environmental and reliability considerations in avionics design * Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills * Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams * Meticulous attention to detail in design, analysis, and documentation * Hands on mentality at testing and problem debugging in laboratory Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:   * We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind  * We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them   * We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?   We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.    The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.   All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.