Principal Mechanical Engineer

<p>CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage—domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. </p>
<p>CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.chaosinc.com">www.chaosinc.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Role Overview:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">CHAOS is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the mechanical design, integration, and qualification of electronic hardware and enclosures for aerospace and defense applications. The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on mechanical design expertise, strong CAD and packaging experience, and a proven ability to independently lead cross-disciplinary technical efforts spanning mechanical, electrical, RF, power, and systems engineering.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p> <br><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Responsibilities:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead the design and development of ruggedized electronic hardware and enclosures, including chassis, card-level packaging, mounting features, and thermal solutions, in accordance with program requirements and applicable standards</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Own mechanical design responsibility for a subsystem or product area, ensuring alignment with system-level requirements and program constraints</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, detailed drawings, and interface control documentation (ICDs), ensuring production-ready quality and configuration control</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Perform first-order structural and thermal analyses to support design decisions and verify compliance with environmental and performance requirements</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Drive cross-disciplinary technical resolution involving mechanical, electrical, RF, power, and systems engineering teams</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Serve as a key technical interface with suppliers and manufacturing partners</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Perform make/buy assessments with manufacturing partners as required</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Support production transition, configuration control, and fielded system sustainment, including investigation and resolution of integration issues</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559685":1080,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Minimum Requirements:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">10+ years of progressively responsible experience in mechanical design and integration of electronic hardware for aerospace, defense, or similar applications</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong proficiency with mechanical CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent) and experience producing production-ready drawings</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Expertise in mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, installation practices, and interface control documents (ICDs) </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Familiarity with military and aerospace connectors (e.g., MIL-DTL-38999, ARINC, Micro-D)</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong understanding of mechanical drafting standards, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and configuration-controlled documentation</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Demonstrated experience with ruggedized military hardware and environmental qualification considerations</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience interpreting and applying military standards, such as MIL-STD-810 and related platform qualification requirements</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Proven ability to lead technical decisions and resolve complex integration challenges</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, multi-disciplinary development environments</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="8" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":1080,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Preferred Requirements:</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559685":360,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Prior experience serving as a lead mechanical engineer on a program</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience with system-level requirements allocation and architecture trade studies</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience supporting environmental qualification testing and analysis (thermal cycling, vibration, shock)</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience with commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation tools (e.g., NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD codes, COMSOL, etc.)</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Familiarity with military and aerospace standards and specifications</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience supporting cable harness routing, connector layouts, and electromechanical integration</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":1080,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Experience supporting prototype fabrication, assembly, and transition to production</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335557856":16777215,"335559739":120,"335559740":240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><br>Why CHAOS?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Health Benefits: </strong>Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company</li>
<li><strong>Additional benefits</strong>: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more</li>
<li><strong>Our Perks: </strong>Free daily lunch, ‘No meeting Fridays’, unlimited PTO, casual dress code</li>
<li><strong>Compensation Components:</strong> Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses</li>
<li><strong>Team Growth: </strong>250 employees and countin