You will lead Amca's mechanical engineering function across design, build, and test. Your team takes flight hardware from concept through qualification and into production — spanning flow control devices, mechanisms, pneumatic and hydraulic assemblies, structural systems, cockpit avionics, and power electronics enclosures and mechanical subsystems. You will set the technical standard for how Amca designs, builds, and proves its mechanical products, while growing and developing the engineers responsible for executing that work day to day. This is a player-coach role: you will be in the details of hard problems while building the team and processes to scale.
You will lead Amca's mechanical engineering function across design, build, and test. Your team takes flight hardware from concept through qualification and into production — spanning flow control devices, mechanisms, pneumatic and hydraulic assemblies, structural systems, cockpit avionics, and power electronics enclosures and mechanical subsystems. You will set the technical standard for how Amca designs, builds, and proves its mechanical products, while growing and developing the engineers responsible for executing that work day to day. This is a player-coach role: you will be in the details of hard problems while building the team and processes to scale.
Responsibilities
Manage the mechanical engineering team across design, build, and test
Hire, develop, and retain mechanical design, build, and test engineers
Set the technical bar for design reviews, qualification testing, build methodology, and DFM standards across the discipline
Mentor engineers at all levels; instill a culture of extreme ownership and first-principles problem solving
Define and evolve mechanical engineering design, build, and testing standards as Amca scales
Contribute to the mechanical product roadmap in partnership with program management and senior leadership
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Work closely with customers and program management to understand end-use applications and challenge requirements wherever possible
Support expansion of Amca's catalog across valves, regulators, solenoids, actuators, pistons, switches, cockpit avionics hardware, power electronics mechanical packaging, and adjacent mechanical categories
Ensure every new design is optimized from day one for reliability, manufacturability, and cost — not retrofitted later
Maintain hands-on technical leadership
Oversee detailed design work including drawings, GD&T, FEA, component specifications, and risk assessments
Lead or support qualification campaigns including functional, environmental, pneumatic, hydraulic, and structural testing per MIL-STD and applicable aerospace standards
Drive hardware iteration from bench prototype through production handoff, leveraging Amca's in-house R&D lab and protoshop
Lead root cause investigations in development, production, and test; own corrective actions through resolution
Ensure DFM feedback flows efficiently between build engineering and design, and that manufacturing best practices are codified into specifications and drawings
Partner closely with electrical engineering on the mechanical design of cockpit avionics and power electronics components, including thermal management, packaging, connectorization, and environmental sealing
Support company growth initiatives
Represent mechanical engineering in customer-facing engagements and program reviews
Qualifications
Substantial experience in mechanical engineering for aerospace or defense hardware, with a strong track record taking products from concept through flight qualification and into production
Demonstrated success leading engineering teams; able to develop and retain strong technical talent
Deep fluency across fluid systems (pneumatic, hydraulic), structural design, mechanisms, GD&T, and manufacturing processes
Experience with the mechanical design of avionics or power electronics hardware, including thermal management, EMI/EMC packaging considerations, and ruggedized enclosure design
Hands-on and lab-comfortable; expected to be in the protoshop and on the bench, not just in design reviews
Strong command of engineering first principles across thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and solid mechanics; proven ability to simplify requirements and cut complexity
Experience with Siemens NX or equivalent CAD package; familiarity with FEA tools and test instrumentation (pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, solenoid valves, etc.)
Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, DO-160, and other aerospace qualification frameworks
Independent, direct, and action-oriented; thrives with ownership and minimal oversight
This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as: any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or. any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or. any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).
The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.
About Amca
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