- Lead the development and documentation of spacecraft mechanical designs from concept, preliminary design, and critical design through flight hardware.
- Own spacecraft mechanical CAD architecture, including large assembly management, configuration control, and CAD database best practices.
- Drive detailed part and assembly design, including structures, mechanisms, and precision interfaces.
- Apply mechanical fundamentals to solve complex and novel spacecraft design challenges.
- Collaborate closely with analysis engineers to ensure designs are structurally and thermally sound and meet mission requirements.
- Oversee drawing creation, GD&T application, and tolerance analysis to ensure manufacturability and proper fit.
- Support hardware build, integration, and test activities, including resolving nonconformances and design issues.
- Identify, implement, and promote best practices in mechanical design, CAD workflows, and documentation standards.
- Provide technical mentorship and design guidance to other mechanical engineers.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- 5–10 years of experience designing mechanical hardware for spacecraft, aerospace, or equivalent high-reliability systems.
- Expert-level proficiency in CAD software; strong preference for Siemens NX.
- Extensive experience managing large CAD assemblies and complex mechanical interfaces.
- Deep knowledge of GD&T and tolerance analysis; ability to apply these principles independently.
- Demonstrated ownership of mechanical designs from concept through manufacturing, integration, and test.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present design decisions, trade-offs, and technical rationale.
- Ability to work onsite in Seal Beach, CA.
- Experience serving as a technical lead or primary designer on flight spacecraft hardware.
- Knowledge of spacecraft mechanical best practices, including materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental considerations.
- Hands-on experience supporting structural and thermal analysis efforts.
- Experience with configuration management and CAD database governance.
- Experience taking aerospace hardware from concept through flight.
- 100% paid medical, dental, and life insurance coverage
- Vision and FSA benefits available
- 3 weeks of PTO + 1 week of sick time
- 10 paid holidays
- Retirement savings plan – 401(k), with company match
- Equity on the ground floor of a startup
Top Skills
What We Do
We mine asteroids to extract platinum group metals (PGMs) in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than the current terrestrial mining methods. PGMs are critical to advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies, and sustainable infrastructure, but are rapidly depleting on Earth. Traditional mining for these resources comes at high environmental and financial costs. Extracting these resources from asteroids is more cost-effective and results in zero impact on our planet, contributing to a greener and more profitable Earth. By leveraging advanced technology and innovative engineering, we’re pioneering a pathway to sustainable mining that eliminates the need for extensive land disruption, reduces energy-intensive processes, and significantly lowers carbon emissions.
Why Work With Us
Team members at AstroForge not only contribute to groundbreaking technological advancements but are also empowered to grow personally and professionally. We value diverse perspectives and backgrounds and encourage new ideas and experimentation. Here, you’re part of a historic mission to change how the world thinks about our shared future in space.
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