Director of Mechanical Engineering

EVONA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA is seeking a Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the mechanical development of next‑generation spacecraft and propulsion hardware in the Los Angeles area. You will own technical direction across structures, mechanisms, fluid systems, and integration while growing a high-performing team.

This role remains technically engaged in major design decisions, reviews, and failure investigations, influencing both current spacecraft and future vehicle architectures.

Qualifications

• BS or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• Extensive experience in aerospace hardware development
• Technical leadership across mechanical design, structures, integration and testing
• Ownership of major vehicle systems through multiple development stages
• Deep understanding of mechanical fundamentals: structures, dynamics, materials, mechanisms
• Experience with CAD, GD&T, FEA, and hardware development
• Decision-making for high-consequence engineering with incomplete information
• Experience leading and mentoring strong engineering teams
• Hands-on in fast-moving hardware-focused environments

Responsibilities

• Own technical direction across spacecraft and propulsion mechanical engineering
• Lead development of structures, mechanisms, pressure systems, and interfaces
• Set mechanical architecture, requirements, standards, and processes
• Make and review critical vehicle-level technical trades
• Lead design reviews ensuring performance, manufacturability, integration, testing
• Guide analyses, FEA, and verification strategies
• Oversee hardware from concept to flight
• Resolve complex mechanical and multidisciplinary problems
• Build and mentor a world-class mechanical team
• Define ownership as the organization scales
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, manufacturing, operations
• Balance performance, schedule, cost, risk, and speed
• Remain hands-on on high-impact challenges

Skills

Technical leadership

Mechanical design

Structures analysis

FEM/FEA

CAD & GD&T

Program leadership

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical or Aerospace Eng

Tools

CAD

FEA

GD&T

First-principles analysis

Job description

Director of Mechanical Engineering - Spacecraft

We’re partnering with an early-stage space company developing advanced spacecraft, propulsion systems, and mission-critical hardware for operations beyond low Earth orbit.

The company has assembled a highly experienced engineering team from several leading commercial space organizations and is developing new spacecraft architectures intended for high-energy, cislunar, and future deep-space missions.

As the organization scales, they are looking for a senior technical leader to own and develop the mechanical engineering function.

The Role

We’re looking for a Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the mechanical development of next-generation spacecraft and propulsion hardware.

You’ll be responsible for technical direction across structures, mechanisms, fluid systems, mechanical integration, and associated test hardware while building and developing a high-performing mechanical engineering team.

This is not a purely managerial position. The company is still small, and the successful candidate will be expected to remain technically engaged in major design decisions, architecture trades, reviews, failure investigations, and critical hardware development.

You’ll have significant influence over both the spacecraft being built today and the engineering organization required to deliver future vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Own technical direction for mechanical engineering across spacecraft and propulsion programs
• Lead development of primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, pressure systems, and mechanical interfaces
• Establish mechanical architecture, requirements, design standards, and engineering processes
• Make and review critical vehicle-level technical trades
• Lead major design reviews and ensure mechanical systems meet performance, manufacturability, integration, and test requirements
• Guide structural analysis, first-principles calculations, FEA, and verification strategies
• Oversee hardware development from concept through detailed design, manufacturing, assembly, test, and flight
• Drive resolution of complex mechanical and multidisciplinary technical problems
• Build, hire, mentor, and develop a world-class mechanical engineering team
• Define responsibilities and ownership as the mechanical organization scales
• Partner closely with leadership across propulsion, avionics, GNC, manufacturing, operations, and program management
• Balance technical performance, schedule, cost, risk, and execution speed across multiple development efforts
• Remain hands‑on where required on the company’s highest-impact technical challenges

Requirements

• BS or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• Extensive experience developing complex aerospace, spacecraft, launch vehicle, automotive, robotics, or similarly demanding hardware
• Proven technical leadership across mechanical design, structures, analysis, integration, and testing
• Demonstrated ownership of major vehicle systems or programs through multiple stages of development
• Deep understanding of mechanical fundamentals, including structures, dynamics, materials, mechanisms, manufacturing, and test
• Strong experience with CAD, GD&T, FEA, first-principles analysis, DFM/DFA, and hardware development
• Track record of making high-consequence engineering decisions with incomplete information
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing strong engineering teams
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment where technical leaders are expected to remain close to the hardware

Ideal Background

Strong candidates may come from:

• Spacecraft or launch vehicle development
• Propulsion or pressure-system development
• High-performance automotive or vehicle engineering
• Robotics or complex electromechanical systems
• Other organizations known for exceptional technical standards and rapid hardware iteration

This role is suited to someone who combines deep mechanical engineering judgment, high standards, strong leadership, and a willingness to remain hands‑on.