--- title: 'Mechanical Engineer at Neon Aerospace' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-1twahx86z7yj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Mechanical Engineer at Neon Aerospace - **Company:** Neon Aerospace - **Location:** Irvine, CA - **Compensation:** $110k–$165k - **Posted:** 2026-05-18 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/neonaerospace/jobs/4247126009 ## Job description Aerospace is at a turning point — costs are rising, supply chains are strained, and old ways of building can’t keep up. At Neon Aero, we’re breaking that mold. We move fast, think big, and combine start-up agility with aerospace expertise to design, build, and scale aircraft in ways the industry has never seen. Our team leverages automation, AI-driven tools, and a fully connected digital backbone to accelerate innovation and reduce barriers to production. Here, you won’t just take a job — you’ll help reinvent how the world flies. If you’re ready to solve complex problems, push technology further, and work alongside some of the brightest minds in aerospace, this is your chance to make a real impact. We’re looking for a Mechanical Engineer to help design and integrate complex mechanical and electromechanical systems powering next-generation hardware—spanning positioning, propulsion, environmental control, and energy management. This role supports high-performance systems across aerospace, transportation, robotics, and advanced mobility. If you enjoy building real hardware, collaborating across disciplines, and turning requirements into production-ready designs, you’ll feel right at home. This is a hands-on, highly collaborative position focused on developing production-intent hardware. You’ll contribute to subsystem architecture, own components and subassemblies, and support programs from concept → validation → production release. Why This Role Matters: You’ll be directly involved in designing the mechanical building blocks that make complex systems work—helping ensure performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost targets are met. You will: - Contribute to mechanical system design and integration across multi-domain programs. - Own components or subassemblies from concept through production release (with guidance as needed). - Design and develop mechanical/electromechanical assemblies using Siemens NX (required). - Apply DFM, DFA, and DFC principles throughout development to set designs up for scale. - Create production-ready drawings with clear documentation and correct GD&T. - Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to support part bring-up, first article builds, and early production. - Support inspection planning and build a working understanding of IQC, OQC, tolerance stack-up, and production validation fundamentals. - Participate in prototype builds, testing, root-cause investigations, and design refinements. - Perform mechanical analysis such as FEA, tolerance analysis, and basic thermal/structural evaluations. - Participate in design reviews and support system-level performance, reliability, and cost goals. - Provide hands-on support during assembly, integration, and testing—staying close to the hardware. What you’ll Bring: - Minimum of 4 years of experience developing mechanical products - Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field preferred; relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree - Proficiency in Siemens NX (required). - Strong working knowledge of GD&T and drawing release practices. - Experience supporting parts from prototype through production release. - Experience with multiple manufacturing processes, such as: - Sheet metal fabrication - Die casting - High-precision machining - Injection molding or similar scalable processes - Experience collaborating with suppliers and manufacturing teams. - Working knowledge of quality fundamentals including inspection processes and basic SPC concepts. - Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams. - You execute and deliver—you like finishing work that becomes real hardware. - Strong fundamentals and practical problem-solving skills. - Comfortable working hands-on in lab and production - Eager to learn, level up, and take on more ownership over time. - Able to balance performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost within a defined scope. - Collaborative mindset with systems awareness and ownership of assigned work. ## Preferred Experience - Aerospace or aviation systems exposure. - Experience in high-performance, fast-iteration environments (automotive, consumer hardware, robotics, etc.). - Familiarity with environmental testing standards such as DO-160. - MATLAB or Python for basic analysis/automation. - Exposure to electric or hybrid propulsion systems. Why Join Us: - Work alongside elite engineering talent and innovators from across aerospace and tech. - Be part of a team moving faster than the industry standard. - Shape solutions that are lower-cost, autonomous, and scalable — the future of aviation. - Competitive compensation, including equity participation, growth opportunities, and full heath benefits (health, vision, dental, 401K) designed to support you in and out of work. This is the expected compensation range for this role. Final compensation will be based on role scope, experience, skills, internal equity and location. This role may also be eligible for bonus/equity/benefits, if applicable. $110,000—$165,000 USD Neon Aero, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply. All final candidates must successfully complete a background check and drug screening as a condition of employment. At this time, Neon Aero and its divisions are not accepting unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies. ## About Neon Aerospace ## Core Business - Primary industry/industries: Aerospace & Defense, Advanced Manufacturing - Target customers: B2B – aerospace OEMs, defense contractors, and emerging air vehicle developers (electric, supersonic, hypersonic, space, AI-powered platforms) - Mission or purpose statement: “Push the boundaries of flight” by uniting electrical, software, and mechanical expertise with trusted partnerships and an unwavering commitment to engineering excellence. ## Products & Services - **Propellers & Rotors**: Lightweight, high-performance composite propellers and rotors for commercial and defense applications, designed using AI-driven tools and certified to DO-160, DO-178, and DO-254 standards. - **Actuators**: Linear actuators and electromechanical actuation systems for positioning, propulsion, and environmental control. - **Engineering Services**: Full lifecycle support – conceptual design, aerodynamic/vibratory prediction, loads analysis, structural design, tooling, composite fabrication, assembly, ground/flight test, and regulatory compliance. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (Post-Series A) - **Key Metric**: Total Funding – $38.5M (Series A, August 2025) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lockheed Martin Ventures (lead investor, corporate venture capital) - **Growth Signals**: - Raised $38.5M in Series A within months of founding - Actively hiring across multiple engineering disciplines (14 open positions as of mid-2026) - Operating from three locations: Santa Clara, CA (HQ); Irvine, CA; Manchester, CT - Building a Tier-1 U.S. supplier position with a backlog of commercial and defense programs ## Competitive Advantages - **Regulatory Expertise**: All products are built for aviation and fully meet DO-160, DO-178, and DO-254 certification standards – a critical moat in aerospace. - **AI-Driven Design**: Proprietary AI tools automate repetitive work, generate design options, and improve with each cycle, producing lighter, stronger, and more affordable products. - **Startup Agility**: Combines Silicon Valley speed with deep aerospace experience, compressing development timelines and reducing costs without compromising safety. - **Elite Team**: Leadership includes veterans from Archer, Bell Flight, Bombardier, Supernal, and Google X, bringing proven track records in certifying aircraft and scaling production. ## Strategic Focus - Scale production capacity for next-generation aircraft programs (electric, supersonic, hypersonic, defense). - Deepen partnerships with major OEMs and defense primes (e.g., Lockheed Martin). - Continue investing in AI-driven design and digital backbone to accelerate innovation and reduce barriers to production. - Expand into new verticals including advanced mobility, robotics, and autonomous systems. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Startup environment that attracts “rare engineering talent” with both regulatory expertise and a drive for rapid innovation. Core values include transparency, challenging convention, moving fast while staying safe, and pursuing excellence. - **Work Model**: Hybrid – roles are based in Irvine, CA and Manchester, CT. No fully remote positions listed; onsite presence expected for hands-on hardware development. - **Compensation & Benefits**: Competitive base salary (e.g., Mechanical Engineer range $110,000–$123,750 USD), equity participation, full health/vision/dental benefits, 401K, and growth opportunities. - **Team**: Work alongside engineers from Archer, Bell, Bombardier, and other top aerospace firms on real hardware that goes from concept to production. - **Impact**: Directly contribute to shaping the future of aviation with lower-cost, autonomous, and scalable solutions. ## Sources 1. [neon.aero](https://www.neon.aero/) 2. [PitchBook](https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/1083536-38) 3. [Greenhouse Job Board](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/neonaerospace) 4. [MapQuest](https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/neon-aero-inc-799118505) 5. [Greenhouse – Mechanical Engineer Job Posting](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/neonaerospace/jobs/4241556009) ## Other roles at Neon Aerospace - [Talent Acquisition Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/talent-acquisition-specialist-neon-aerospace-irvine-xbz5ph2m183j) — Irvine, CA - [Director of Electrical Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-electrical-engineering-neon-aerospace-irvine-x0krwhahz592) — Irvine, CA - [Director of Mechanical Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-mechanical-engineering-neon-aerospace-irvine-30e7xy50kv82) — Irvine, CA - [Sr. Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-electrical-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-mf18gxm679dh) — Irvine, CA - [Sr. Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-mechanical-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-1z13de8hyz8c) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Manager, Commercial Contracts](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-commercial-contracts-neon-aerospace-irvine-s73ccp1wdpc6) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Embedded Platform Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-platform-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-ye82z9m68xrf) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Engineer, Propellers](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-engineer-propellers-neon-aerospace-manchester-connecticut-wt79pq2zbazs) — Manchester Connecticut, United States - [Senior Embedded Systems Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-systems-software-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-nfp2hyyatd2q) — Irvine, CA - [Senior Motor Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-motor-control-engineer-neon-aerospace-irvine-6whhxpwh46z1) — Irvine, CA