Founding Mechanical Engineer

Zephyr Fusion; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Zephyr Fusion seeks a driven mechanical engineer to own the full lifecycle of high performance hardware systems, from architecture to integration and launch. You will lay the foundations of the mechanical engineering team and design and develop mechanical systems for advanced space applications.

This is a full-time, on-site role located in Vista, CA. The candidate must be a US person due to ITAR restrictions and will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to meet ambitious engineering goals.

Qualifications

• Expertise in mechanical design and mechanical engineering.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in fast-moving, product-driven teams.
• Experience with CAD or FEA software packages.
• Experience with the practical application of GD&T.
• Proficient in principles of mechanical design, materials, and thermodynamics.
• Ability to design, build, and test hardware from a blank canvas and iterate designs.
• Ability to collaborate across teams in fast-paced, hands-on projects.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical structures and mechanisms critical to our space operations.
• Take hardware from conceptual design through qualification to on-orbit operations.
• Work with cross-functional teams to tackle multi-domain problems and drive hardware toward real implementation.
• Own CAD models, drawings, release packages, and BOMs for prototype and flight hardware.
• Drive design trades among performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost.
• Establish processes and standards for mechanical engineering at Zephyr Fusion.

Skills

Mechanical design

Mechanical engineering

CAD/FEA

GD&T

Materials/thermodynamics

Hardware design/testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

CAD/FEA software

Job description

Zephyr Fusion (YC F25) is pioneering the development of compact megawatt-class fusion reactors designed specifically for space. By leveraging high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets and decreasing space launch costs, Zephyr Fusion harnesses the unique advantages of the space environment to create novel solutions for high-power applications. Zephyr Fusion aims to enable the industrialization of the space economy by building spacecraft power systems with orders of magnitude higher power densities vs. conventional satellite power systems.

Role Description

We are seeking a driven and innovative mechanical engineer to own the full lifecycle of high performance hardware systems, from architecture through to integration and launch. This role is a unique opportunity to lay the foundations of the mechanical engineering team here at Zephyr Fusion with a focus on designing and developing mechanical systems for advanced space applications. You will play a pivotal role in bringing Zephyr Fusion's groundbreaking space technologies to life and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to meet innovative engineering goals.

This is a full-time, on-site role located in Vista, CA

Due to ITAR and export control restrictions candidates must be US persons.

Responsibilities Include

• You will own the success of the mechanical structures and mechanisms that will be key to our operations in space
• Take hardware and mechanisms from conceptual design through qualification to on-orbit operations
• You will work closely with cross-functional teams to solve hard multi-domain problems while driving designs toward real hardware
• Own CAD models, drawings, release packages, and bill of materials for prototype and flight hardware
• Drive design trades across performance, manufacturability, schedule, and cost
• Establish effective processes and standards for mechanical engineering at Zephyr Fusion

Qualifications

• Expertise in Mechanical Design and Mechanical Engineering
• 8 or more years of relevant experience. We highly value time spent in fast-moving, execution-focused teams and product-driven cultures
• Experience with CAD or FEA software packages
• Experience with the practical application of GD&T
• Demonstrated proficiency in the principles of mechanical design, materials, and thermodynamics
• Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from a blank canvas, including troubleshooting and iterating designs
• Ability to collaborate across teams in fast-paced, hands-on engineering projects

Preferred

• Experience in aerospace, fusion, or advanced energy technology
• Design of magnetic systems and/or High Temperature Superconductors
• Experience working on projects with extreme thermal challenges
• Familiarity with space screening and qualification processes