Senior Mechanical Engineer

Description

Kela is a defense technology startup pioneering next-generation defense technology, from command & control software to complete field-deployed systems. We empower defense organizations with robust, scalable, and secure platforms that integrate diverse sensors and AI to deliver real-time battlefield intelligence. Backed by leading investors, Kela combines Israeli innovation with global mission impact.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you'll be the hands-on builder who turns ambitious designs into real, working hardware deployed in the field. You'll own the mechanical design, integration, and production of ruggedized systems built to survive demanding operational environments, from sealed external assemblies to the supporting infrastructure they connect to. You'll work closely with our algorithms and systems teams to enable the data collection that powers our products, and you'll be on the shop floor as much as in CAD, leading the path from prototype to serial production at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and architecture of ruggedized assemblies that house sensitive payloads in harsh operational environments, including sealing, thermal management, and materials selection.
• Engineer systems to withstand significant mechanical loads, shock, vibration, and the full range of field conditions: dust, moisture, temperature extremes, and platform-induced stresses.
• Design and integrate supporting mechanical infrastructure across the broader platform, working closely with electrical and systems teams.
• Partner with the algorithms and systems teams to design and build mechanical rigs and fixtures for data collection, from lab setups to field-deployable configurations that capture the right data under real-world conditions.
• Drive failure analysis and reliability work throughout the product lifecycle: FMEA during design, root cause analysis on prototypes and returned units, and feeding lessons learned back into the next revision.
• Lead the Design for Manufacturing (DFM/DFA) phase and select the optimal production method for serial production at scale, balancing cost, lead time, and ruggedness.
• Plan and lead the production ramp: tooling, vendor qualification, first-article inspection, assembly setup, and quality control on the floor.
• Build, assemble, and debug prototypes hands-on, then bake what you learn into the production design.
• Ensure all designs meet MIL-STD requirements for environmental, mechanical, and electromagnetic performance, and own the qualification path from design through testing.

Requirements

• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience, with a strong production and assembly background.
• BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
• Proven experience designing ruggedized enclosures or mechanical assemblies that survive high-shock, high-vibration environments.
• Working knowledge of MIL-STD design and qualification (810, 461, or equivalents), and the ability to design to them from day one rather than learn them on the job.
• Experience taking a product from prototype through a production run of hundreds to thousands of units, including selecting manufacturing methods, qualifying vendors, and owning the ramp.
• Comfortable working closely with software and algorithms teams.

Advantages

• A serious maker / builder portfolio: things you've designed, built, and shipped on your own time, whether that's racing drones, custom motorcycles, CNC builds, robotics projects, or anything else that proves you can take metal from idea to working hardware.
• Real experience in heavy machinery or heavy-platform integration: tractors, bulldozers (D9 or similar), AFVs, construction or agricultural equipment, or comparable rugged platforms.
• Experience in a defense company.
• Experience with FMEA, root cause analysis, or reliability engineering for ruggedized hardware.
• Familiarity with sensor integration, harnessing for armored or heavy platforms, or vehicle-mounted systems.