Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security.
Stratolaunch is seeking a subject matter expert in mechanical systems to join the Technical Staff in Engineering. Members of the Technical Staff at Stratolaunch are the company’s foremost functional area experts, providing company-level technical leadership as they solve today’s execution problems and develop innovative solutions for the future. The successful candidate will have demonstrated technical leadership capability and a track record of applying deep technical expertise in aerospace structures, mechanical design, kinematics, material selection, and structural analysis methods, as well as familiarity with engineering drawings, aerospace manufacturing methods, FEA analysis, and test data interpretation, to solve practical engineering problems.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide company-level technical discipline leadership in technical review, technical mentorship, mechanical problem-solving, and conceptual design
Provide formal and casual collaborative review at all stages of mechanical design for new and ongoing mechanical design activities
Provide mentorship at multiple levels across the mechanical design group, with a focus on junior colleagues
Enable world-class engineering through the creation of technical standards, best practices, and common toolchains in domain(s) of expertise
Support program execution by leading teams through and/or participating in high-impact problem solutions (e.g., failure review boards, RCCA, tiger teams)
Develop and maintain engineering capability roadmaps and lead the realization of those capabilities
Propose and lead internal research and development projects to generate intellectual property and enable future business success
Support white papers, proposals, and other front-end-of-the-business efforts
Support recruiting and hiring activities
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required Qualifications:
In-depth experience in the following:
Aerospace structures
Mechanical design
Kinematics
Material selection methods
Engineering drawings and documentation
Structural analysis methods
Aerospace manufacturing methods
Test planning and test data interpretation
Demonstrated ability as a technical leader
Demonstrated ability to apply technical expertise to solve high-impact problems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills: capable of conveying complex technical information to diverse audiences
Familiarity with relevant industry and military standards and regulatory specifications
Experience proposing and leading IRAD projects
Ability to interact with customers and/or external stakeholders
Demonstrated experience applying analytical and critical thinking skills to solve multidisciplinary, open-ended engineering problems
Ability to work independently in a dynamic environment to achieve business goals
U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain a DOW security clearance
Required Computer Skills:
MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, or Fusion
Preferred Qualifications:
Working knowledge of systems engineering principles and best practices, especially relating to requirements verification through test
Experience owning and implementing technical roadmaps
Experience supporting hypersonic vehicle development programs culminating in flight testing
Active DOW security clearance
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Principal ($174,300–$219,500): Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in a related discipline from an accredited institution and 15+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Senior Principal ($193,100–$256,200): Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree (graduate degree preferred) in a related discipline from an accredited institution and 20+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Special Remarks Regarding Work Environment, if Applicable
Position based in Mojave, CA. Consideration for hybrid (partial remote/on-site work) work arrangements for well-qualified candidates may be provided.
9/80 schedule
Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.
Benefits and our location(s):
- Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
- 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
- Tuition reimbursement
This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.
Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.
Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.
Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.
Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law :
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
Skills Required
- Knowledge and experience in structures, loads, structural-thermal analysis, mechanical systems, aircraft systems, or launch vehicle integration
- Experience with rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles
- Experience as a structural or mechanical design engineer on a structures team
- Experience with composite structures analysis, design, and manufacturing
- Technical leadership experience, leading multi-discipline engineering teams
- Experience with technical aerospace leadership, including working with sub-contractors
- Experience with risk management
- Ability to work in small engineering teams, prioritize tasks, and adapt to changing priorities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance (eligibility)
- MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA
- 3D CAD experience – CATIA or SolidWorks
- Bachelor's degree (B.S.) and relevant engineering experience (Sr: 5-10 years; Staff: 10-20 years) or equivalent
- Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development (full life cycle)
- Experience with air-launched vehicle development
- Experience with BMI or epoxy pre-preg composites
- Experience with static structural testing
- Active security clearance
- FEMAP and NX NASTRAN
- PLM tool experience such as TeamCenter
- Programming experience (Python, C++, or MATLAB)
Stratolaunch Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Stratolaunch and has not been reviewed or approved by Stratolaunch.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Fair & Transparent Compensation: Pay is considered competitive for many roles, with posted ranges for engineers and specialized hourly positions that indicate robust bands. Public self-reported packages also point to strong totals for some technical titles.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare Strength: Coverage includes multiple PPO/HMO options with HSA/HRA support and employer seeding, plus a monthly health-club reimbursement. These elements indicate comprehensive medical choices accompanied by meaningful wellness perks.
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Retirement Support — Retirement Support: A 401(k) program offers a company match up to an annual cap with a two‑year vesting schedule. This structure stands out as a meaningful long‑term savings benefit.
Stratolaunch Insights
What We Do
Stratolaunch LLC designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need to significantly advance U.S. hypersonic flight test capabilities and help improve the nation’s ability to design and operate cutting edge hypersonic vehicles. Our hypersonic testbeds will provide customizable, reusable, and affordable access to the Mach 5+ flight regime. We are delivering the world’s premiere hypersonic flight test services.
Why Work With Us
We offer customers the ability to perform risk reduction via affordable and routine flight test for their critical technologies. We offer an operationally realistic environment, enabling us to test in the subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes. With our reusable and low-cost system, customers can rapidly iterate the design of their t
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