We are actively seeking a passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking Associate Mechanical Engineering Manager to join our Communication Systems business in Westminster, Colorado.
In this role, you will provide functional leadership for a team of Mechanical Engineers supporting the development of airborne, maritime, and ground-based phased array communication systems. You will be responsible for developing engineers, supporting resource planning, improving engineering processes, and ensuring successful execution across multiple product and customer programs.
Working closely with Program Managers, Responsible Engineers, Systems Engineers, and fellow Functional Managers, you will help ensure the Mechanical Engineering organization delivers high-quality technical work while continuously improving people, processes, and tools. In addition to your management responsibilities, you will remain an active technical contributor on critical product developments, leading mechanical design efforts and mentoring engineers through the full product lifecycle.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience designing ruggedized electronics packaging and mechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or communications applications and enjoys mentoring engineers while remaining hands-on in the development of production hardware.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing engineering culture.
- Provide coaching, mentorship, performance feedback, and career development for team members.
- Support staffing, hiring, onboarding, and resource allocation across programs and IRAD efforts.
- Partner with program leadership to ensure mechanical engineering activities are executed successfully while meeting technical, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve mechanical engineering processes, standards, tools, and best practices.
- Promote technical excellence through design reviews, engineering guidance, and mentorship.
- Serve as a senior technical contributor for ruggedized electronics packaging, phased array antenna systems, and communication hardware.
- Lead or support concept development, mechanical architecture, detailed design, structural and thermal analysis, manufacturing, integration, environmental qualification, and production transition activities.
- Support proposal development, customer technical discussions, and design reviews.
- Foster collaboration across Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, RF, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, and Supply Chain organizations.
- Promote CesiumAstro’s culture, values, and commitment to continuous improvement.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited university.
- 4–7 years of industry experience as an individual contributor in the design and analysis of aerospace, defense, communications, or ruggedized electronics products.
- Additional 1 year of previous leadership or management experience, either as a technical lead, project lead, Responsible Engineer, IPT Lead, or people manager.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate engineers while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Experience designing PCBA-level and system-level electronics packaging and mechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or communications applications.
- Experience with the complete product development lifecycle including concept development, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, environmental qualification, production, and sustainment.
- Experience with professional simulation tools such as ANSYS Mechanical and/or SolidWorks Simulation, as well as CAD/PDM systems such as SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM.
- Experience designing for aerospace and defense manufacturing methods including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, castings, bonded assemblies, additive manufacturing, and electromechanical assemblies.
- Experience supporting environmental qualification testing for ruggedized products, including standards such as MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, and other applicable aerospace or defense qualification requirements.
- Working knowledge of applicable industry standards such as IPC, ASME, SAE, MIL-STD, RTCA DO-160, and related aerospace and defense specifications.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize competing demands while supporting multiple concurrent programs.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
- Experience with phased array antenna systems, RF electronics packaging, avionics, tactical communication systems, or defense electronics.
- Experience supporting EMI/EMC, vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, ingress protection, and other environmental qualification campaigns.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
- 4-7 years of industry experience designing and analyzing aerospace, defense, communications, or ruggedized electronics products
- At least 1 year of leadership or management experience as a technical lead, project lead, Responsible Engineer, IPT Lead, or people manager
- Ability to lead, mentor, and motivate engineers in a collaborative and inclusive environment
- Experience designing PCBA-level and system-level electronics packaging and mechanical systems
- Experience across the product development lifecycle, including concept development, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, environmental qualification, production, and sustainment
- Experience with ANSYS Mechanical and/or SolidWorks Simulation
- Experience with SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM or comparable CAD/PDM systems
- Experience with aerospace and defense manufacturing methods, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, castings, bonded assemblies, additive manufacturing, and electromechanical assemblies
- Experience supporting environmental qualification testing for ruggedized products, including MIL-STD-810 and RTCA DO-160
- Working knowledge of IPC, ASME, SAE, MIL-STD, RTCA DO-160, and related aerospace and defense specifications
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Ability to prioritize competing demands across multiple concurrent programs
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
- Experience with phased-array antenna systems, RF electronics packaging, avionics, tactical communication systems, or defense electronics
- Experience supporting EMI/EMC, vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, ingress protection, and other environmental qualification campaigns
CesiumAstro Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CesiumAstro and has not been reviewed or approved by CesiumAstro.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus FSAs and mental health benefits. Feedback suggests the health package is comprehensive for a growth-stage aerospace firm.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with company matching and other retirement-plan elements. Feedback suggests core retirement mechanisms are in place alongside standard financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, paid sick days, and bereavement leave are included. Feedback suggests time-off options are broad on paper across multiple leave types.
CesiumAstro Insights
What We Do
We build high-throughput, plug-and-play phased array communication payloads for space and airborne platforms. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a diverse range of commercial and defense objectives. Full-system engineering design is at the heart of every CesiumAstro product. We deliver high-performance solutions under rapid development timelines.
Why Work With Us
At CesiumAstro, we’re a team. We’re passionate, respectful, and determined colleagues ready to help at a moment’s notice. We’re mentors excited to enable our peers with the knowledge they need to succeed. Together, we’re visionaries committing to building memories that will last a lifetime.
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