Mechanical Engineer - Design and Build the Equipment Behind a Next-Generation Metal Casting Foundry

Billerica, MA | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a venture-backed manufacturing company that is changing how precision metal castings get made for aerospace, defense, and energy programs. By combining 3D-printed tooling with in-house software and automation, the team delivers cast parts in weeks instead of the many months customers have come to expect from traditional suppliers.

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will design, build, and commission the custom equipment used at each step of that process. You will take machines from a set of requirements to working hardware on the production floor, partnering closely with process engineers and senior engineering leads. The equipment you deliver will directly determine how quickly the factory can scale output.

About Us

We are an early-stage, well-capitalized advanced manufacturing startup rebuilding domestic metal casting capacity for aerospace, defense, and energy customers. Backed by leading venture firms and strategic aerospace and defense investors, the company has a production foundry up and running, is shipping parts to customers, and plans to bring additional foundries online as demand grows. The founding team comes from top commercial space and metal additive manufacturing companies, and every employee works on-site, close to the physical process.

Job Duties

• Design custom manufacturing equipment and subsystems, from requirements definition through detailed design
• Turn process requirements into mechanical designs, and use new equipment capability to open up better process options
• Machine, fabricate, and assemble hardware yourself, from individual components to fully integrated systems
• Commission new equipment on the shop floor and transition it into production use
• Write test plans and lead acceptance testing before equipment is released to production
• Troubleshoot equipment failures to root cause and put lasting fixes in place
• Build guarding and interlocks into designs based on hazard analysis
• Develop fixturing and part-handling systems that carry work between process stages
• Create detailed drawings with GD&T and tolerance stack-ups for machined and fabricated components
• Incorporate sensing and actuation into designs so equipment is ready for automation
• Track requirements and interfaces across tightly coupled subsystems and assess the downstream impact of design changes
• Support build vs. buy decisions with performance analysis and cost estimates
• Present work at formal design reviews and document the reasoning behind design choices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field
• 2+ years of experience designing and building equipment or vehicle systems
• Proficiency in Inventor, SolidWorks, or a comparable CAD platform, with strong GD&T and DFM skills
• Track record of taking equipment from CAD model to functioning hardware
• Hands-on machining, fabrication, and shop-floor assembly experience
• Experience sourcing components and working with machine shops and fabrication vendors
• Strong grounding in machine design and heat transfer
• Willingness to question requirements and clearly explain technical decisions in writing and in person
• U.S. person status (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) required under ITAR

Preferred Experience

• Designing equipment for high temperature, high pressure, or vacuum environments, or for molten and corrosive materials
• Prior work on production equipment or factory automation
• Aerospace hardware experience such as propulsion systems or turbomachinery
• Scaling hardware systems for higher throughput and reliability
• Pneumatic and hydraulic system design
• Familiarity with control systems and basic programming
• Working knowledge of machine safety standards and risk assessment

Why Join Us

• Design first-of-its-kind equipment for a new manufacturing process
• See your hardware running in production, not sitting in a lab
• Work side by side with process engineers and operators every day
• Own high-impact mechanical systems at an early-stage company
• Early-employee equity with real upside as the company expands from one foundry to many
• Fast career growth: early hires are expected to step into technical leadership as the team scales
• Small, hands-on team with no bureaucracy, where decisions happen in days rather than quarters
• A mission that matters: rebuilding domestic production of castings used in aircraft engines, defense systems, and energy infrastructure
• Competitive base salary
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Unlimited PTO

Compensation Details

$115,000 - $145,000 + equity

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents). Visa sponsorship is not available.