---
title: 'Mechanical and Structural Engineer at wardstone.space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-and-structural-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-wbe6s5wqvcn0'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Mechanical and Structural Engineer at wardstone.space

- **Company:** wardstone.space
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA
- **Compensation:** $100k–$160k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-07-08
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.gem.com/wardstone-space/am9icG9zdDrhcaj5Mg9L2-nm0P3f-kfM

## Job description

## Overview

Wardstone is looking for a Mechanical and Structural Engineer to own the mechanical architecture and structural integrity of our first missile interceptor, Hailstorm. This role includes missile interceptor sizing, outer mold line (OML) design, actuator mechanics, internal packaging, and ensuring survivability under extreme flight conditions. You will design, analyze, prototype, test, and iterate mechanical systems and structures capable of withstanding high aerodynamic loads, intense vibration, and significant thermal stress. You will work side-by-side with the founders, propulsion, aerodynamic, and controls engineers. You will own the on-vehicle mechanical and structural systems from conceptual design to real world demonstration.

## What You'll Do

Interceptor Design & Structural Analysis

- Size the missile interceptor for extreme flight, launch, and maneuver loads.
- Perform comprehensive structural and vibration analysis to ensure vehicle integrity during all dynamic phases of flight.
- Analyze and mitigate dynamic loads, shock, and aeroelastic effects.

Mechanical Design & Packaging

- Lead the Outer Mold Line (OML) design to meet aerodynamic, kinematic, and volumetric requirements.
- Design primary and secondary structures, including critical hardpoint definition and custom bracket design.
- Generate and manage complex CAD models and assemblies for the entire vehicle system.

Cross-Functional Integration

- Interface closely with aerodynamics, propulsion, and thermal engineering teams to balance structural strength with heat dissipation and drag reduction.
- Collaborate with electrical and propulsion teams for optimal routing, packaging, and mounting of critical subsystems.

Manufacturing, Materials, & Vendor Management

- Drive material selection for high-performance applications (e.g., advanced composites, high-strength alloys, high-temp materials).
- Work directly with external vendors and machine shops to procure components, ensuring quality and tolerance standards are met.
- Utilize hands-on machining experience (lathe, mill) for rapid in-house prototyping and test fixture creation.

Required Qualifications

- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of industry experience.
- Strong demonstrated CAD proficiency with experience managing complex vehicle assemblies.
- Deep background in structural analysis, including FEA for static, dynamic, and vibration loads.
- Experience with material selection for high-stress or aerospace applications.
- Hands-on fabrication and machining experience (manual or CNC mill and lathe).
- US Person or Lawful Permanent Resident status required.

Nice to Haves

- Experience designing hardware for missiles, UAVs, rockets, or other high-speed aerospace systems.
- Previous experience managing external vendors, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
- Familiarity with OML design and aerodynamic packaging constraints.
- Exposure to MIL-STD testing (thermal, vibration, shock, environmental).
- Experience building and testing your own structural test rigs.

## About wardstone.space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Wardstone builds a modular, low-cost interceptor platform for air and missile defense, designed to counter threats from Group 4 UAS to medium-range ballistic missiles.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage; raised $5M)
- **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Sebastian Fischer (CEO) and Tobias Fischer

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Missile Defense, Space-Based Interceptors
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Air Force Research Labs), allied nations
- **Mission or purpose**: To out-produce, out-innovate, and out-perform adversaries by building a modular interceptor platform that can be mass-produced, rapidly adapted, and fielded at the pace of evolving threats.

## Products & Services
- **Hailstorm (Ground-Based Interceptor)**: A right-sized, modular surface-based interceptor demonstrated in the Mojave (Mach 2.5, 40,000 ft). Uses a large particle cloud (1 km diameter) to kinetically neutralize hypersonic and ballistic missiles, reducing cost and sensing requirements.
- **Space-Based Interceptor Constellation**: Satellites equipped with kinetic interceptors designed to counter hypersonic and ballistic missiles from orbit. Part of the “Golden Dome” concept.
- **Modular Platform Architecture**: Interchangeable components allow mission-specific configuration, rapid upgrades, and parallel production across multiple suppliers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding — $5M seed round (raised from Nova Threshold, Liquid 2 Ventures, Bow Capital, B5 Capital, Allegis Capital)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Y Combinator (fall 2025 cohort), relationships with AFWERX, Space Systems Command, Air Force Research Labs, Navy Joint Special Operations Command
- **Growth Signals**: Accepted into Y Combinator; first prototype (Hailstorm-Ground) successfully flown; letters of support for a $3M SBIR grant; inbound requests for additional use cases; hiring multiple engineering roles.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Modularity**: Standardized, interchangeable components decouple production from single bottlenecks, enabling surge manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
- **Cost advantage**: Interceptors are designed to be “right-sized” to the threat, drastically reducing per-unit cost compared to traditional “exquisite” interceptors (e.g., THAAD, GMD).
- **Unique kill mechanism**: Large particle cloud increases probability of intercept without requiring precise hit-to-kill, reducing sensor and actuator costs.
- **Incremental path**: Starting with ground-based interceptors before scaling to space-based systems, allowing technology maturation and customer validation.

## Strategic Focus
- Near-term: Deliver ground-based interceptors to fill the “missing middle” threat band (Group 4 UAS to MRBMs) and secure SBIR/IRAD contracts.
- Medium-term: Deploy space-based interceptors as part of the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defense architecture.
- Continuous improvement: Open architecture to integrate new technologies without redesigning the entire platform.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven**: Direct impact on national security and countering hypersonic threats.
- **Early-stage startup**: Opportunity to shape the company’s technology and culture from the ground up.
- **Engineering focus**: Roles span mechanical, electrical, avionics, propulsion, GNC, simulation, and sensing.
- **Compensation & equity**: Competitive salaries ($100k–$160k for engineers) plus equity grants.
- **Location**: El Segundo, CA — a growing aerospace startup hub near LA Air Force Base and Space Force facilities.
- **Work environment**: Likely on-site/hybrid (El Segundo office); YC alumni culture with fast iteration and hands-on testing (e.g., Mojave flight tests).

## Sources
1. [wardstone.space](https://wardstone.space/)
2. [wardstone.space/careers](https://wardstone.space/careers)
3. [wardstone.space/ourstory](https://wardstone.space/ourstory)
4. [spacenews.com](https://spacenews.com/startup-bets-on-new-approach-to-space-based-missile-defense/)
5. [ycombinator.com](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/wardstone)

## Other roles at wardstone.space

- [RF Sensing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/rf-sensing-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-sn8m2hqgqmy2) — El Segundo, CA
- [Business Development Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-intern-wardstone-space-el-segundo-62ac1psa2yb8) — El Segundo, CA
- [Engineering Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-intern-wardstone-space-el-segundo-rdcvr3c95qf3) — El Segundo, CA
- [Electrical Engineer - Avionics](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-avionics-wardstone-space-el-segundo-k8h27tze6sg3) — El Segundo, CA
- [Simulation and Modeling Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/simulation-and-modeling-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-7j963gyyqhar) — El Segundo, CA
- [Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/guidance-navigation-and-controls-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-af4nyczss525) — El Segundo, CA
- [Propulsion Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-engineer-wardstone-space-el-segundo-5ez4q6jh0mr1) — El Segundo, CA