Mechanical Engineer

About the role

The role centers on rapid design, prototyping, and flight validation of spacecraft subcomponents while integrating mechanical systems on strict schedules. The role emphasizes fast execution and deep ownership in a high-stakes aerospace environment.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

Flight-ready critical spacecraft components move quickly from concept to hardware under tight deadlines.

Design of bolted joints is taught in a class, supported by extensive CAD experience. Tolerances the machine shop can hit are known without asking, enabling complex interdependent systems to be designed collaboratively.

Requirements

Roughly 4-6 years of mechanical design experience on flight hardware or similar high-reliability mechanical systems is required. Ownership of spacecraft components spans clean-sheet design through spaceflight.

Extensive CAD experience is mandatory. The design of bolted joints can be taught in a class. Knowledge of tolerances the machine shop can hit without needing to ask them is required. Strong experience collaboratively designing complex interdependent systems is required.

Even if you do not meet 100% of the above qualifications, the team is likely still interested in hearing from you. Hiring exceptional individuals is the team's number one priority, and exceptional people often have highly unusual backgrounds. You are also invited to carve out unique roles for unconventional people that the team is excited to work with.

Practical notes

The role is based in Hawthorne, California, with full-time employment. The listed compensation range is listed, and the role supports employees and their families as generously as able. Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

The role emphasizes fast execution and deep ownership in a high-stakes aerospace environment. Mechanical design, analysis correlation, and systems integration define typical work in this field. Teams rely on CAD mastery and practical shop knowledge to hit demanding tolerances. Collaboration across interdependent systems is common. Professionals with unconventional backgrounds can find opportunities when exceptional ability is evident.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.