Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineer

Job Summary

The Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineer will lead the design, development and manufacturing of advanced mechanical components and assemblies for Hera Technologies’ industry‑leading thermal protection systems (TPS). The role involves hands‑on work with TPS soft goods, composites and engineered surface finishes, supporting the full lifecycle from concept and design through prototyping, manufacturing and production. Candidates should have a strong foundation in mechanical design and manufacturing, with practical experience in advanced materials and ruggedized hardware applications.

• Lead the design, development and manufacturing of mechanical components and assemblies for Hera’s industry‑leading TPS, including soft goods, composites and engineered surface finishes.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to develop and implement scalable manufacturing and assembly processes that ensure quality, efficiency and compliance with aerospace and defense standards.
• Create and maintain process documentation and controls to support consistent production outcomes and optimize throughput across design, prototyping and manufacturing phases.
• Utilize traditional and advanced manufacturing techniques for metallics, composites and other materials used in TPS and critical aerospace structures to ensure performance, durability and production scalability.
• Prototype and test advanced materials—including carbon fiber composites, high‑temperature elastomers and reinforced fabrics—iterating based on performance data and failure analysis.
• Investigate material failures, process anomalies and manufacturing defects by leading root‑cause analyses to implement corrective actions in both development and production phases.

• 4+ years of mechanical design and manufacturing experience, with emphasis on metallics, composites and TPS.
• Proven leadership in engineering projects involving design, prototyping and production of mechanical systems, including soft goods and polymer‑based components.
• Hands‑on experience with advanced materials and mechanical components in aerospace or defense applications, including TPS and engineered surface finishes.
• Strong understanding of elastomer and composite manufacturing processes, material properties and relevant aerospace testing standards.
• Proficient in CAD software (e.g., Solid Works) with the ability to produce high‑quality, production‑ready engineering drawings.
• Solid foundation in engineering principles including structures, materials science, thermal management and mechanical system design.
• Skilled in prototyping and fabrication techniques such as machining, composite layups, bonding and mechanical assembly.
• Expertise in creating manufacturing and build plans/procedures for various customer products and assemblies with respect to industry standards or customer‑supplied specifications.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience in advanced material applications.
• Proficient in Solid Works or similar CAD/CAM tools, with experience using PLM systems to manage design and production workflows.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5, with demonstrated ability to apply tolerancing principles in aerospace‑grade engineering drawings.
• Advanced design experience across CNC machining, composites, ceramics, sheet metal and injection molding, including tooling and mold development for high‑performance applications.
• Demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal skills in cross‑functional engineering environments, including collaboration with manufacturing, quality and program teams.
• Familiarity with qualification campaigns for aerospace and defense hardware, including ruggedized systems and TPS components.
• Experience designing for harsh environments, ensuring durability, thermal resilience and mechanical integrity under extreme conditions.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher), or the ability to obtain one based on eligibility.
• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent industry experience in advanced material applications.

• Ability to…