Entry level mechanical engineering Jobs in Orange, CA

Director of Mechanical Engineering

Irvine, CA

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.

Neon is seeking a Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the organization responsible for developing and delivering our next generation of complex hardware products. This role combines organizational leadership with hands-on product development expertise, owning mechanical engineering capability, technical quality, and execution across multiple programs. The ideal candidate has built strong engineering teams and repeatedly taken complex mechanical or electromechanical hardware from an ambiguous starting point through architecture, design, prototype, validation, industrialization, production, and shipment. Relevant experience may come from aerospace, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, automotive, industrial systems, or other demanding hardware environments.

Why This Role Matters

• Lead and develop Neon's Mechanical Engineering organization, including its people, technical capabilities, engineering standards, and organizational structure.
• Own mechanical engineering execution across multiple products and development programs from concept through production.
• Set the technical bar for mechanical architecture, design quality, analysis, GD&T, tolerancing, materials, mechanisms, and design documentation.
• Build fast, disciplined design-build-test cycles that help teams identify risks, learn from hardware, and converge on effective solutions.
• Ensure manufacturability, assembly, reliability, serviceability, cost, and production scalability are incorporated into product decisions from the beginning.
• Partner closely with electrical, embedded software, systems, test, manufacturing, industrial design, and supply chain teams to develop complex electromechanical products.
• Remain directly involved in critical architecture decisions, design reviews, prototype builds, failure investigations, and difficult technical problems.
• Own mechanical readiness for prototype and production builds, including supplier engagement, tooling, manufacturing process selection, tolerance management, inspection strategy, yield, and root-cause resolution.
• Work full-time in-office at Neon's Irvine location. Specific workload expectations and any extended-hours requirements associated with builds, testing, or production milestones are [Manager to confirm].

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 10+ years of experience developing physical products, including meaningful ownership of hardware that reached production or customer deployment.
• 5+ years of experience leading mechanical engineering, product design, hardware engineering, or closely related technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience taking multiple products or complex subsystems from concept through production.
• Broad mechanical engineering fundamentals across structures, mechanisms, electromechanical systems, thermal systems, packaging, materials, and manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design, CAD, GD&T, tolerance analysis, engineering drawings, prototyping, mechanical analysis, and design validation.
• Experience with multiple manufacturing processes, such as machining, casting, molding, forming, additive manufacturing, composites, or other production technologies.
• Direct experience working with suppliers and manufacturing teams during prototype builds, tooling, process development, production ramp, and quality resolution.
• Strong understanding of DFM, DFA, cost, process capability, reliability, and production variation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary hardware development involving mechanical, electrical, software, controls, test, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.
• Strong engineering judgment, including the ability to make decisions with incomplete information and identify what must be tested or measured before committing.
• A first-principles approach to technical problem solving and the ability to move between architecture, detailed design, testing, manufacturing, and organizational challenges.
• A hands-on leadership style with a strong focus on working hardware, technical rigor, and execution.
• Ability to develop technical leaders and individual contributors while creating clear ownership and accountability.
• Ability to collaborate with low ego, maintain accountability, and remain engaged until difficult problems are resolved.
• Ability to work primarily in an office environment and participate in technical meetings, design reviews, and computer-based engineering work. Additional physical requirements are [Manager to confirm].
• U.S persons Status required.

Preferred

• Experience developing products in more than one hardware industry or product category.
• Experience in high-performance hardware environments such as consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, automotive, industrial systems, advanced mobility, or aerospace.
• Experience scaling engineering teams or establishing mechanical engineering capability within a growing organization.
• Experience developing high-volume or cost-sensitive products in addition to low-volume, high-performance hardware.
• Experience with complex electromechanical systems involving motors, actuators, sensors, power electronics, thermal systems, precision mechanisms, or similar technologies.
• Experience across both early-stage technology development and production product development.

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 health benefits (health, vision, dental, 401(k)) designed to support you in and out of work.

$210,000 - $325,000 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.