Mechanical Design Engineer II

Job Summary

As a Mechanical Design Engineer II, you will own the full lifecycle of hardware development—from concept to production. You’ll take ideas from early design and prototype to field deployment, driving rapid iteration and delivering real, working systems. This is a hands‑on engineering role, not a support position. You will be expected to lead projects, make decisions, and build. You will work in a high‑speed, cross‑functional environment where engineers collaborate across mechanical, electrical, embedded, and software disciplines to develop and deploy hardware systems quickly.

About Kform

Kform is a leader in transforming innovative technology for defense applications. Kform offers cradle‑to‑cradle commercialization services enhanced by a partner ecosystem of products and driven by a team of experts dedicated to pioneering solutions for national defense. Kform designs and manufactures defense mission systems with innovative startups and leading corporations to deliver solutions for modern challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design from concept to production: develop CAD models, assemblies, and drawings (SolidWorks)
• Drive design decisions with minimal oversight
• Lead rapid prototyping efforts: translate ideas into physical hardware quickly
• Work hands‑on with fabrication tools, machining, and assembly
• Execute fast iteration cycles: design → build → test → refine (often within days/weeks, not months)
• Collaborate across disciplines: integrate mechanical systems with electrical, embedded, and software components
• Work directly with manufacturing to ensure buildability
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects: balance competing timelines across several active programs
• Deliver results in a high‑throughput environment
• Conduct testing and validation: ensure systems meet performance, durability, and mission requirements
• Interface with internal and external stakeholders: communicate design decisions, tradeoffs, and progress clearly
• Mentor junior engineers (Level I): provide guidance while continuing to stay hands‑on

What Success Looks Like

• You can take a loosely defined problem and turn it into a working prototype quickly
• You own outcomes, not just tasks
• You are comfortable making decisions without waiting for direction
• You thrive in an environment where:
  • Priorities shift
  • Timelines are compressed
  • You’re expected to figure things out and move forward

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 3–7+ years of hands‑on product development experience
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (or similar CAD tools)
• Experience taking products from concept → prototype → build
• Familiarity with:
  • Mechanical assemblies
  • Enclosures, structures, or ruggedized systems
  • Integration with electrical components
• Hands‑on experience with:
  • Prototyping
  • Fabrication / machining environments (basic competency expected)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in:
  • Defense, aerospace, robotics, or hardware startups
  • Rapid prototyping or contract manufacturing environments
• Exposure to:
  • RF systems, embedded hardware, or electromechanical systems
  • AS9100 or similar quality environments
• Prior experience:
  • Owning a product or major subsystem end‑to‑end
  • Working in small, high‑output teams

What We’re Really Looking For

• Engineers who:

  • Love building things — not just designing them
  • Are comfortable working fast and iterating often
  • Prefer ownership over structure
  • Can operate with minimal process and high autonomy
  • Want exposure to multiple products and industries, not just one

• This role is not a fit for someone who prefers:

  • Long design cycles
  • Large, highly structured teams
  • Narrow scope roles