Launch Engineer - Tooling & Fabrication

Socket.dev; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 96,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive benefits including med/d

401(k) with employer match

4 weeks Paid Time Off

Holidays – 10 days

Paid Family/Parental Leave

On-site gym or wellness stipend

Dog friendly offices

Job summary

Stoke Space in Cape Canaveral, FL is seeking a launch engineer to ensure rapid development, readiness, and operation of ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling for high-paced launches. You will work with REs, technicians, and vendors to plan fabrication, preparation, testing and installation, and you will generate workflow documentation.

The role requires 2+ years at a launch site, strong mechanical grounding, experience with 3D CAD and config control, and willingness to relocate.

Qualifications

• 2+ years as an engineer at a launch site or similar high‑performance facility.
• Strong fundamentals across engineering disciplines with a mechanical emphasis.
• Experience with NX/Teamcenter or similar CAD/config control software.
• Familiarity with machining, welding, GD&T and related processes.
• Knowledge of hydraulics and pressurized systems is preferred.
• Awareness of ASME/AWS standards and range requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical or related field.
• Ability to troubleshoot and implement real-time solutions.
• Willingness to relocate to Cape Canaveral, FL.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, test, and utilize launch site tooling and GSE.
• Upgrade and maintain tooling to support high-cadence launches.
• Coordinate fabrication, preparation, testing, and installation with REs, technicians, and vendors.
• Generate, execute, and maintain workflow documentation.
• Continuously improve launch operations to enable rapid launch and recovery.

Skills

Launch site engineering

Mechanical engineering

Troubleshooting

Verbal & written communication

Education

Bachelor's in aerospace/mechanical/manufacturing engineering

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

Ansys/Femap

Job description

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry. Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us. Description Reusable systems with frequent launch cadence are the key to seamlessly connecting Earth and space. A highly operable, reliable, and robust ground system is an integral part of a fully reusable launch system. As a launch engineer for our dedicated launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, you will be responsible for ensuring rapid development, readiness, and operation of a range of tooling and ground support equipment key to the functioning of the launch team to meet its high-paced and critical objectives. As part of a small, well-supported team, you will have access to the resources you need to get the job done right while simultaneously boosting your skills at a pace that can’t be matched in most other roles. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, test, and utilize launch site tooling from fabrication/assembly aids to test fixtures to vehicle-interfacing GSE.
• Upgrade, modify, maintain, and utilize existing launch site tooling and GSE to execute and improve launch operations.
• Work closely with REs, technicians, and vendors/contractors to plan, coordinate, and execute fabrication, preparation, testing, and installation of GSE from tooling to pad systems.
• Generate, execute, and maintain workflow documentation.
• Continuously improve launch operations functions to enable high-cadence launch and recovery operations.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as an engineer at a launch site or a facility supporting launch hardware, or equivalent experience with similar high-performance applications.
• Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals across disciplines with an emphasis on mechanical.
• Experience with NX/Teamcenter or similar 3D CAD and configuration control management software.
• Experience with designing for and a solid understanding of machining, welding, GD&T, and other design-fabrication processes.
• Familiarity with basics of hydraulics and pressurized systems.
• Familiarity with mechanical industrial standards (ASME, AWS, etc.) as well as AFSPCMAN 91-710 and range requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or similar field.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and implement solutions real time.
• Ability to prioritize and execute
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Willing to relocate to Cape Canaveral, FL

Preferred Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience as an engineer at a launch site or a facility supporting launch hardware, or equivalent experience with similar high-performance applications.
• Proficiency with NX/Teamcenter or similar 3D CAD and configuration control management software.
• Experience with Ansys, Femap, or other FEM analysis tools.
• Experience with hydraulics and pressurized systems.
• Familiarity operating industrial equipment (forklifts, cranes, aerial lifts).

Benefits

• Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees.
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
• Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)
• Paid Family/Parental Leave
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation Target Levels

Target Levels: Level 1 Range: $95,550 - $120,645 Level 2 Range: $109,725 - $148,470

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.

It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.

Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws.

Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires. For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here .