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Zone 5 Technologies

Aerospace engineering and high-volume munitions production

Environmental Qualification & Design Engineer

Aerospace EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeSan Luis Obispo, CA, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in aerospace, defense, or high-reliability systems engineering.
  • Direct hands-on expertise in MIL-STD-810 environmental testing, with working knowledge of DO-160 and/or related military or industry standards.
  • Experience identifying root-cause failures and incorporating insights into early design phases.
  • A solid understanding of mechanical and electrical systems, including power and harnessing, enclosures, and electronics packaging under extreme conditions.
  • Hands-on experience with test instrumentation, vibration tables, thermal chambers, and data collection tools.
  • Proven ability to work cross-functionally with internal engineering teams and external testing partners.
  • Experience supporting or qualifying missile systems, guided munitions, or small aerial vehicles in DoD acquisition or RDT&E environments.
  • A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Electrical Engineering is required.

Responsibilities

  • Develop, author, and execute detailed environmental test plans in compliance with MIL-STD-810 and related military standards.
  • Partner with design engineering teams to integrate test-derived insights into hardware architecture, material selection, and packaging to improve reliability and survivability.
  • Translate environmental qualification needs into design guidelines and drive early-phase design reviews to ensure environmental readiness.
  • Conduct and oversee testing across shock, vibration, temperature, humidity, rain, and sand/dust environments.
  • Coordinate and support EMI/EMC testing, including collaboration with external labs and internal electrical teams.
  • Lead test setup planning, including harnessing, fixturing, instrumentation, and data acquisition strategies.
  • Serve as the primary technical interface for third-party test houses by coordinating logistics, validating setup integrity, and ensuring test fidelity.
  • Apply knowledge of missile systems and counter-UAS platforms to guide realistic and mission-relevant test planning.

Desired Qualifications

  • A master's degree is preferred.

About the Company

Zone 5 Technologies

Aerospace engineering and high-volume munitions production

Zone 5 designs and builds unmanned aircraft systems and low-cost missiles for defense, serving as a prime DoD contractor with vertical integration from concept to production. Its products, like the Rusty Dagger cruise missile, Paladin UAS for autonomous counter-drone missions, and White Spike for counter-UAS and precision strikes, are engineered for high-volume, low-cost production with modular avionics for fast fielding. It differentiates itself by a production-first approach that aims to cut unit costs and shorten development timelines, delivering a flight-ready system within about four months, and by controlling design and manufacturing in-house as a vertically integrated contractor; in 2026 it became a mostly-owned subsidiary of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Its goal is to provide affordable, scalable munition and counter-UAS solutions for the DoD and allied forces.

Company size
201-500
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
San Luis Obispo, CA
Founded
2011

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