Research & Development Engineer III - Mechanical / Aerospace

Role details

Research & Development Engineer III - Mechanical / Aerospace

Carson City, Nevada | On-site |

Engineer What's Next in Aerospace With a 3-Day Weekend Every Week!

What if your next engineering role gave you the opportunity to design, build, and test new aerospace products while also giving you every Friday off?

This is an opportunity to join an established aerospace manufacturer where innovation, stability, and quality of life go together.

You'll work a four-day workweek with Fridays and weekends off, receive 100% employer-paid medical coverage for the employee, and join a family-owned organization known for long-term employee retention and stability.

They're looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer who enjoys taking ideas from concept through mechanical design, prototyping, testing, and product development.

This is not simply a manufacturing or process engineering position. The focus is hands-on product development, mechanical design, and engineering testing, with particular interest in aerospace fastening, adhesive bonding, bonded assemblies, advanced materials, and joining technologies.

If you enjoy solving complex mechanical challenges, building and testing prototypes, investigating material and assembly performance, and turning new concepts into real aerospace products, this could be an excellent next step.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $98,000–$145,200, depending on experience
• Four-day workweek, with Fridays and weekends off
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage for the employee
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Tuition assistance and professional development
• Relocation assistance available
• Family-owned, family-oriented culture
• Strong employee retention and organizational stability
• No individual state income tax in Nevada
• Northern Nevada location near Lake Tahoe, skiing, hiking, and outdoor recreation

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop new aerospace products from concept through mechanical design, prototyping, testing, and validation.
• Design and evaluate mechanical components, assemblies, fastening systems, and joining solutions.
• Build physical prototypes and conduct hands-on engineering tests to evaluate product performance.
• Evaluate structural adhesives, bonded joints, aerospace fasteners, and mechanical joining technologies.
• Investigate bondline preparation, surface preparation, curing methods, coatings, and material compatibility.
• Evaluate composites, polymers, lightweight materials, and other materials used in aerospace applications.
• Develop test plans, experimental methods, and acceptance criteria for new products and technologies.
• Analyze test data, troubleshoot performance issues, investigate failures, and drive design improvements.
• Apply engineering analysis, design of experiments (DOE), and root-cause investigation to solve technical challenges.
• Interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements.
• Support design verification, validation, qualification, and transition into production.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and engineering teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and meet performance requirements.
• Prepare engineering reports, test procedures, product requirements, and technical documentation.
• Research aerospace specifications, emerging technologies, and opportunities for product innovation.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.
• Five or more years of mechanical engineering, R&D, or new product development experience.
• Demonstrated experience taking physical products from concept through design, prototyping, testing, and validation.
• Hands-on mechanical design, prototype development, and engineering testing experience.
• Strong understanding of mechanical components, assemblies, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
• Experience troubleshooting mechanical performance issues and conducting failure analysis.
• Ability to develop test plans, interpret test results, and document engineering findings.
• Understanding of design for manufacturability and transitioning new products into production.
• Comfortable working hands-on with prototypes, test equipment, technicians, and manufacturing teams.

Preferred Experience

*Candidates with experience in the following areas are especially encouraged to apply:*

• Aerospace or defense product development.
• Structural adhesives, adhesive bonding, bonded joints, or bonded assemblies.
• Bondline preparation, surface preparation, curing, coatings, or surface treatments.
• Aerospace fasteners, mechanical joining systems, or aircraft assembly.
• Composite structures, polymers, or lightweight aerospace materials.
• Materials characterization, surface science, or joining-process development.
• CAD-based mechanical design using SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX, or similar tools.
• GD&T, mechanical or structural analysis, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA).
• Prototype fabrication, qualification testing, and design verification and validation.
• Design of experiments (DOE), test-data analysis, and root-cause investigation.
• Failure analysis and corrective design improvements.
• Aerospace manufacturing and new product introduction.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity is best suited for a Mechanical Engineer who enjoys staying close to the technical work: designing components, building prototypes, testing physical assemblies, and solving real engineering problems.

Engineers with direct experience in adhesive bonding, aerospace fastening, bonded assemblies, composites, or advanced materials will be particularly relevant.

Candidates whose backgrounds are limited to production support, quality inspection, or process improvement without hands-on mechanical design and product development experience may not be the right fit.

If you're ready to help develop the next generation of aerospace technologies while gaining back every Friday, apply now!