As an Advanced Mechanical Design Engineer for Component Investigation, you will [TM1] specialize in conducting investigations on Heat exchangers and other Environmental Control Systems (ECS) related aerospace metallic hardware that no longer perform as expected, and play a critical role in diagnosing and understanding the cause of failures in various aerospace parts. Your expertise will serve as the backbone for addressing complex business challenges connected to component performance and reliability issues.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct in-depth investigations into the causes of component failures, utilizing advanced engineering principles and methodologies with a team approach.
- Perform laboratory work as needed for the investigation including part sectioning, sample preparation, photography, microscopy, and SEM/EDS evaluation.
- Establish the direct cause of the failed components and proactively collaborate with the engineering team to determine root cause and corrective actions.
- Master the connection between metallurgy and part performance to analyze material behaviors under operational conditions.
- Use knowledge of material and process failure phenomena to conclude the direct cause of component failure.
- Leverage detailed knowledge of product functionality to articulate component failure mechanisms comprehensively.
- Collaboratively engage with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to proactively solve problems and improve engineering processes.
- Adhere to standardized Material Engineering Component Investigation (MatEng CI) processes and expectations to ensure consistency and accuracy in investigations.
- Maintain laboratory facility, equipment, and consumables for metallography and component investigation, including capital planning to meet current and future needs
Report to: Mechanical Design Engineering Manager
Location: Torrance, CA
Work Schedule: M-F (hybrid after 90 days)
MUST HAVE:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a technical discipline such as the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Aerospace Engineering performing problem solving investigations which require hands-on laboratory analysis techniques to expose fractures, such as metallographic preparation, metallurgical evaluation, SEM/EDS, and NDT
- Deep understanding and working knowledge of various corrosion mechanisms, specific to aerospace components and sub-systems and fracture mechanisms
WE VALUE:
- Bachelor or Master degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Extensive experience in metallic component failure analysis, metallurgy, and materials processing disciplines such as heat treatment, thermomechanical processing, and fusion welding
- Experience performing various mechanical testing methods such as hardness and tensile testing
- Strong problem-solving skills with a collaborative mindset and proactive approach.
- Familiarity with standardized engineering investigation processes and best practices.
- Exceptional communication and documentation skills to provide clear explanations and solutions.
- Experience resolving production process problems in aerospace metals products
- Experience with aerospace design requirements definition (drawings, specs) where strong knowledge of materials and processes used in aerospace is required
- Experience maintaining laboratory equipment and inventory
The annual base salary range for this position is $122,000 - $152, 000. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. Honeywell considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.
U.S. PERSON REQUIREMENT
Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. Person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status or have the ability to obtain an export authorization.
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR HONEYWELL AEROSPACE
Beyond a performance-driven salary, you'll work alongside dedicated experts on technology that's advancing aviation. As a Honeywell Aerospace employee, you're eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts
• Employee assistance program and educational assistance
• Parental leave and 12 paid holidays
• Paid time off for vacation, personal and sick time
Explore your benefits: https://honeywellaerospacebenefits.com/
ABOUT HONEYWELL AEROSPACE
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on aircraft across commercial aviation, defense and space. We operate through three business areas:
• Electronic Solutions develops the avionics, navigation systems, sensors and electromagnetic defense technology on board 90% of the world's aircraft
• Engines & Power Systems provides the propulsion, auxiliary power and electrical systems that keep those aircraft flying
• Control Systems supplies the thermal and motion control systems that support takeoff, landing and the safety of everyone on board
With approximately 58,000 employees worldwide and net sales of $17.4B in 2025, we are also advancing systems for autonomous and supersonic platforms — bringing the same focus on safety and efficiency to the next era of flight. Explore our businesses: https://www.honeywellaerospace.com
The application period for the job is estimated to be 40 days from the job posting date; however, this may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. August 13, 2026.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics)
- Minimum 5 years experience in Aerospace Engineering performing problem-solving investigations with hands-on laboratory analysis (metallographic preparation, metallurgical evaluation, SEM/EDS, NDT)
- Working knowledge of corrosion mechanisms specific to aerospace components
- Working knowledge of fracture mechanisms and ability to determine direct cause of failures
- U.S. Person status (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, asylee/refugee, or ability to obtain export authorization)
- Bachelor or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Extensive experience in metallic component failure analysis, metallurgy, and materials processing (heat treatment, thermomechanical processing, fusion welding)
- Experience performing mechanical testing such as hardness and tensile testing
- Familiarity with standardized engineering investigation processes and best practices
- Experience resolving production process problems in aerospace metals products
- Experience with aerospace design requirements definition (drawings, specs) and strong documentation/communication skills
- Experience maintaining laboratory equipment, inventory, and capital planning for metallography/component investigation labs
The Aerospace Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The Aerospace Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by The Aerospace Corporation.
-
Retirement Support — The 401(k) plan provides a company‑paid contribution of 8–12% based on years of service with immediate eligibility and vesting, and eligible employees can access retiree medical benefits.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off includes 15 vacation days (rising to 20 after five years), nine paid holidays, and unlimited sick time for exempt employees with accruals for non‑exempt staff.
-
Flexible Benefits — Flexible work models include a 9/80 schedule with alternating Fridays off, supported by backup care services, an EAP, relocation assistance, and home‑office stipends where applicable.
The Aerospace Corporation Insights
What We Do
The space enterprise has been transformed by rapid change and growth. New vehicles for national security space, a more rapid launch cadence, proliferated satellite constellations, the pursuit of interplanetary exploration, and thriving commercial ventures are changing the nature of the space industry. The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is a leading architect for U.S. space programs, shaping efforts to outpace threats to our national security while cultivating the technologies needed to further this new era of space commercialization and exploration. Aerospace works across the space enterprise in service of the public interest. In addition to supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, our customers include NASA, NOAA, numerous federal agencies, and commercial space — all of whom benefit from our deep technical knowledge. We only pursue business related to the space mission and complementary fields, operating as the nation’s trusted partner to solve the toughest challenges and develop reliable and innovative technologies. Innovation in space occurs when people have the freedom to imagine and do. At Aerospace, we take pride in our readiness to solve some of the most complex challenges in the space enterprise.
Why Work With Us
We are a non-profit corporation chartered by the government to work on the hardest problems in space. We employ technical experts in every discipline of space-related science and engineering who touch every part of the US space program. Come join us as we make an impact bigger than ourselves.
Gallery
.png)
