Soft Structures Engineer at Mach Industries in Huntington Beach, CA

Summary: Mach Industries is a rapidly growing defense technology company focused on developing next-generation autonomous defense platforms. The Soft Structures Engineer will lead the design, analysis, and development of lighter-than-air platforms, working hands-on with soft materials and high-performance fabrics to create manufacturable, flight-ready hardware. Responsibilities: - Own the end-to-end design of balloon envelopes, including geometry, material selection, and structural architecture - Perform detailed analysis of pressurized and unpressurized systems, including stress, creep, fatigue, and failure modes - Design for manufacturability, including seaming, patterning, joining methods, and production constraints - Develop and execute test campaigns (ground + flight) to validate models and iterate rapidly - Work cross-functionally with mechanical and manufacturing teams to integrate envelope systems into full vehicles - Build internal tools and frameworks for simulation, sizing, and performance prediction - Drive rapid iteration cycles from prototype to deployment in a fast-paced environment Required Qualifications: - Experience with soft goods / flexible structures (e.g., fabrics, membranes, composites, inflatables, parachutes, sails, balloons, etc.) - 1+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on designing and prototyping mechanical systems (can be in a professional, hobby or academic setting) - Strong skills in 3D modeling and CAD tools (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, etc.) for mechanical design and iteration - Experience with programming languages (e.g. python, MATLAB, C++) for analytical modeling, simulation and engineering problem-solving - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field - Demonstrated experience owning hands-on, end-to-end hardware development efforts (e.g., FSAE, DBF, Rocket Team, or similar projects) Preferred Qualifications: - Background in high-altitude or atmospheric systems - Familiarity with textile engineering, coatings, or permeability/diffusion modeling - Experience designing for extreme environments (thermal, UV, pressure cycling) - Knowledge of seaming, bonding, and joining techniques (RF welding, heat sealing, adhesives, stitching) and their structural implications - Experience modeling or testing membrane structures under load, including wrinkling, creep, and long-term deformation - Familiarity with coatings and barrier layers, including permeability, gas retention, and environmental degradation (UV, moisture, temperature cycling) Required Skills: Soft goods, flexible structures, Mechanical engineering design, prototyping, 3D modeling, CAD tools, Python programming, MATLAB programming, C++ programming, Hardware development, Pressurized system analysis, Stress, fatigue analysis, Seaming, joining techniques, Membrane structure modeling, Textile engineering Benefits: Health insurance, Retirement plans, Opportunities for professional development