---
title: 'Junior Mechanical Engineer at Valinor Enterprises, Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/junior-mechanical-engineer-valinor-enterprises-inc-washington-e2mfsk5rywr4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-08'
---

# Junior Mechanical Engineer at Valinor Enterprises, Inc.

- **Company:** Valinor Enterprises, Inc.
- **Location:** Washington, DC
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor/68e88f2e-0e31-4e74-8e79-9ee25b3e787b

## Job description

Valinor is a new type of defense and government tech company focused on solving the problems others don't. Our unique model of centralized go-to-market and decentralized engineering allows us to move with unparalleled efficiency to identify unmet needs, build right-sized solutions, and get products where they matter most: in the hands of users. Backed by General Catalyst, Founders Fund, and Friends & Family Capital, Valinor was founded in 2024 and has established strategic partnerships with Palantir, Anduril, and Helsing. We are building the dream team, and we want you on it.

## About The Role

We are looking for a Junior Mechanical Engineer to join our Reflex team in Washington, DC. You'll take a hands-on role in building, assembling, and prototyping our smart glasses, working closely with our engineering team to solve mechanical design and manufacturing challenges. This is a great opportunity for an early-career engineer who enjoys building physical products and wants to grow into broader mechanical design responsibilities.

## What You'll Do

- Build, assemble, and prototype smart glasses and supporting mechanical components.
- Assemble and integrate electronic components, circuit boards, and wiring into compact housings and wearable hardware prototypes.
- Use 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques to develop and iterate on designs.
- Research and select materials, troubleshoot thermal challenges, and improve product performance.
- Support mechanical design efforts, including CAD modeling and the development of enclosures and other components.
- Work closely with engineers to test, refine, and improve hardware designs.

## What We're Looking For

- 0–2 years of experience in mechanical engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, or a related hands-on technical field.
- Experience with CAD software, preferably SolidWorks, and basic mechanical design.
- Familiarity with 3D printing, materials selection, and rapid prototyping.
- Hands-on experience assembling, building, or manufacturing physical products.
- Hands-on experience building electromechanical systems, including personal projects or participation in collegiate robotics or racing teams, is a plus.
- Strong technical curiosity, resourcefulness, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get things done.

What Valinor Offers

- Competitive salary, equity packages, and benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance - fully covered for employees, 401(k), development stipends, among others.
- Unlimited PTO and two-week company holiday at the end of every calendar year.
- We are a pro-mental health and pro-family company - we actually encourage employees to spend time with themselves and their families. Valinor also provides fertility benefits to those just beginning that journey.
- Fun work environment - we like to laugh and take care of each other, but we also deeply respect the mission in front of us.

This role requires the candidate be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance preferred, but not required.

Valinor is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The Valinor team is made up of incredibly talented and unique individuals, who together are disrupting industry norms by creating new paths towards the future of defense and government technology. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, Veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you are someone passionate about working on problems that have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you!

## About Valinor Enterprises, Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Valinor Enterprises is a new kind of defense and government technology company that builds and buys mission-critical technologies to solve unaddressed problems in national security.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Alexandria, Virginia, United States (with offices in Washington, DC; Fort Worth, TX; New York, NY; and presence in South Korea)
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Julie Bush (Co-Founder & CEO) and Paul Kwan (Co-Founder And Investor)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Defense technology, Government technology, National security
- Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence community, and other government agencies (B2G/Enterprise)
- Mission or purpose statement: "Building and buying mission-critical technologies to fill the gaps others ignore" — focused on solving the problems others don’t, enhancing national strength, stability, and security.

## Products & Services
Valinor operates a unique model of **centralized go-to-market** and **decentralized engineering**. Rather than listing specific products, Valinor builds and procures right-sized solutions for unmet needs in mission-critical environments. Key areas of focus include:
- **Edge AI**: Software engineering for AI deployed at the tactical edge.
- **Autonomy & Ground Systems**: Software and hardware for autonomous systems.
- **GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control)**: Engineering for precision-guided systems.
- **Mission Operations**: Operational support and deployment for defense customers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — **$85.0M** across two rounds
  - Seed Round (2024): $31.0M (3 investors)
  - Series A (January 2026): **$54.0M** (12 investors, led by Friends & Family Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Friends & Family Capital (lead, Series A), plus a total of 15+ investors across rounds. Partners with industry leaders in defense tech.
- **Growth Signals**: Nearly tripled headcount in six months (from ~14 to 42 employees); 7 active job postings with monthly posting growth of +75%; expanding from Alexandria, VA to offices in Washington, DC, Fort Worth, TX, and New York, NY; international presence in South Korea.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique operating model**: Centralized go-to-market combined with decentralized engineering allows for unparalleled speed in identifying needs, building solutions, and deploying them directly into users' hands.
- **Speed to deployment**: The company emphasizes moving "from demand signal → development → deployment" fast enough to outpace traditional defense contractors.
- **Talent density**: Pulls top talent from elite organizations including Palantir Technologies, Anduril Industries, ARPA-H, and other defense/tech leaders.
- **Focus on underserved problems**: Targets gaps that larger defense primes ignore, creating a clear niche.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue rapid headcount growth across engineering, operations, and mission roles.
- Deepen presence in key defense hubs (DC, Texas, New York, and international).
- Scale the "build and buy" model to cover more mission-critical technology gaps.
- Prioritize getting products into the hands of end-users quickly over long development cycles.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as a "new kind of defense company" — less bureaucratic, more startup-like, with a mission-driven focus on national security. Values include speed, ownership, and direct impact.
- **Work Policy**: Hybrid and in-office options depending on role and location. Headquarters is in Alexandria, VA, with hybrid expectations for some roles (e.g., Office Coordinator) and in-office for others (e.g., engineering roles in Fort Worth).
- **Engineering Culture**: Heavy emphasis on full-stack ownership, edge deployment, and real-world impact. Tech stack includes Python, TypeScript, React, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, Grafana, Prometheus, gRPC, and more. Engineers work on autonomy, AI, and ground systems.
- **Growth**: Rapidly scaling company (42 employees, tripled in 6 months) — early employees have significant ownership and career growth potential.
- **Team Composition**: 42% of employees are in technical roles; senior leadership includes heads of Finance, Legal, Marketing, Growth, and People/Talent.

## Sources
1. [valinor.co](https://www.valinor.co/)
2. [valinor.co/careers](https://www.valinor.co/careers)
3. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/valinor)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/valinor-enterprises-inc)
5. [linkedin.com/company/valinor-enterprises](https://www.linkedin.com/company/valinor-enterprises)

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