Director of Engineering

InnoForge; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

InnoForge, a space technology company in Los Angeles, seeks a Director of Engineering to own the ruggedized microsatellite hardware development from concept to flight. You will guide multidisciplinary teams and dive into mechanical design, hardware development, testing, and issue resolution in high-G environments.

The role requires 8+ years in spacecraft or similar space hardware, with expertise in mechanical systems, GD&T, materials, and CAD tools (NX, Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA).

Qualifications

• 8+ years in spacecraft hardware development or related space hardware.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams.
• Strong CAD/engineering analysis skills and problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Own spacecraft hardware development from concept through flight.
• Lead system design, analysis, fabrication, integration and qualification.
• Develop hardware for operation in high-G environments.
• Lead technical and design reviews across multidisciplinary teams.
• Oversee prototype, development, qualification and flight hardware.

Skills

Technical leadership

Systems engineering

Project management

Tools

NX

Creo

SolidWorks

CATIA

Job description

Director Of Engineering | Spacecraft Hardware | Los Angeles

We’re working with a well-funded space technology company developing a new approach to how spacecraft and payloads are deployed and operated in orbit.

They’re looking for an experienced engineering leader to take ownership of the development of a new class of ruggedized microsatellite hardware, taking systems from early concept and prototype through qualification, flight and ultimately production.

You’ll lead multidisciplinary technical teams, but equally need to be comfortable getting into the detail around mechanical design, hardware development, testing and resolving problems when things don’t behave as expected.

What you’ll be doing

• Own spacecraft hardware development from concept through to flight
• Lead system design, analysis, fabrication, integration and qualification
• Develop hardware capable of operating in demanding high-G environments
• Lead technical and design reviews across multidisciplinary teams
• Oversee prototype, development, qualification and flight hardware

You’ll likely have 8+ years within spacecraft, launch vehicles or similarly complex space hardware and have taken real hardware through a meaningful part of the development lifecycle.

Experience:

• Spacecraft or launch vehicle mechanical systems
• Precision mechanical assemblies
• CAD – NX, Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA or similar
• GD&T and tolerance analysis
• Structural mechanics and material selection

Experience with FEA, machining, composites, sheet metal or additive manufacturing would all be useful.

More important than having every box ticked is having genuinely owned complex hardware and being comfortable operating in an environment where engineers are expected to move quickly, make decisions and stay close to the product.