Internship Defense Distributed Jobs in California

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with omniscient systems purpose-built for today's realities. Designed and built by top U.S. military veterans and Silicon Valley innovators, CHAOS Industries' products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats. In a world where technological threats move at unprecedented speed, CHAOS Industries delivers advanced sensing and detection solutions that give the ultimate advantage: time.   

Role Overview:

CHAOS is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join our team providing hands-on mechanical expertise for the integration of ruggedized electronics, effectors, and mission-critical hardware into ground- and sea-mobile platforms for aerospace and defense applications. In this role, you will support the design and mechanical integration of military electronics and effector systems with critical platform structures and mechanisms, working alongside senior engineers on design challenges ranging from compact electronics enclosures to larger structural or mechanism assemblies.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in mechanical CAD and design principles, hands-on prototyping experience (from coursework, internships, or personal projects), an interest in ruggedized hardware design, and the drive to learn quickly in a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary engineering environment.

This is a full-time, on-site position in El Segundo, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Support technical leadership and hands-on prototyping and mechanical integration of mission systems: electronics, enclosures, effectors, launchers, mechanisms, and support equipment into ground- and sea-mobile platforms
• Assist in the design of mechanical structures, frames, mounts, enclosures, and mechanisms subject to shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental constraints
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, and interface control documentation (ICDs) to support multi-disciplinary system integration
• Perform first-order structural and thermal analyses and requirements allocations under the guidance of senior engineers to ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable military standards
• Support system-level integration, qualification, and acceptance activities, including installation, alignment, and fit-check efforts
• Assist as a technical hardware interface with customers, platform providers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
• Support production transition, configuration control, and fielded system sustainment, including investigation of integration issues

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline (completed or expected within the next few months)
• Coursework, internship, co-op, or project experience in mechanical design, structures, or system integration (aerospace/defense exposure a plus but not required)
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent) for assemblies and top-down design
• Foundational understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, and installation practices
• Exposure to structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEA) through coursework or projects
• Strong communication skills and eagerness to learn from senior engineers in a multi-project environment
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Preferred Requirements:

• Coursework or project experience related to ruggedized hardware, military standards (e.g., MIL-STD-810), or environmental qualification
• Experience with mechanisms and actuation systems, including linkages, bearings, motors, hydraulics, pneumatics, gimbals, or rotary joints (e.g., from capstone projects, clubs, or competitions)
• Familiarity with at least one commercial FEA or multiphysics simulation package (NASTRAN, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CFD codes, COMSOL, etc.)
• Hands-on prototyping experience, including additive manufacturing, CNC machining, or other fabrication techniques (e.g., through robotics teams, maker clubs, or personal projects)
• Familiarity with military-style connectors (e.g., mil-circular 38999, ARINC, micro-D)
• Involvement in relevant engineering clubs, competitions (e.g., SAE, Formula SAE, robotics teams), or research projects

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch, 'No meeting Fridays', unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 300 employees and counting across 5 global offices

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

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