Launch Integration Engineer

Astro Digital; Littleton (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401k matching

Floating holidays

Sick days

PTO

Job summary

Astro Digital in Littleton, CO, is seeking a launch integration engineer to join the mechanical department onsite. You will coordinate deliverables, support launch sites in person, and assist with spacecraft integration as needed.

The ideal candidate has a mechanical or aerospace background, practical CAD skills, and a willingness to travel 6–8x per year. This full-time role offers competitive compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in a similar launch integration role if no engineering degree.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, compile, review, and submit launch vehicle deliverables under guidance, liaising with program managers and design leads.
• Provide in-person, hands-on support for program launch integrations at multiple sites.
• Support spacecraft integration as needed by AIT department when feasible.
• Assist design engineers in procuring and designing GSE for launch integration, including CAD drawings.
• Occasionally assist with vibration testing.
• Arrange shipment of vehicles and toolsets to launch/test facilities.
• Coordinate with launch support providers to facilitate activities.
• Create handling and testing procedures for vibe tests and launches.

Skills

Aerospace fundamentals

GSE provisioning

CAD design

Flight hardware handling

Vibration testing support

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering or closely related field

Tools

CAD design software

Job description

Astro Digital designs, builds, and operates a diverse range of small satellite systems supporting space-based turnkey missions for several business applications, including earth observation, communications, in-orbit demonstrations, risk reduction, science, and exploration. Astro Digital is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with roughly 100 employees and infrastructure around the globe.

Position Summary

The launch integration engineer is a multi-disciplinary engineering role reporting to a senior launch integration engineer and the director of the mechanical department onsite at our Littleton, Colorado facility. The launch integration engineer will be responsible for:

• Coordinating, compiling, reviewing, and submitting launch vehicle-required deliverables under the direction of the senior launch integration engineer. This requires internal coordination with program managers and mechanical design and structural leads, including monitoring deadlines, checking technical information, etc. Good foundational knowledge of aerospace systems is required.
• In-person, hands‑on support of all program launch integration at various launch sites
• Supporting spacecraft integration as needed by the Assembly, Integration, and Test department and when launch integration responsibilities allow
• Supplementing mechanical design engineers in designing and procuring GSE to support launch integration – CAD design, part and assembly drawing creation
• Occasional in-person support of vibration testing
• Arranging the shipment of vehicles and toolsets to launch and test facilities
• Coordinating with launch support providers to support launch integration activities
• Creating handling and testing procedures for vibe tests and launch integration

The ideal candidate is meticulous, self‑motivated, and passionate about aerospace technology. He or she would be comfortable with the multi‑disciplinary attributes of the position, willing and eager to learn new skills. He or she would also be willing to travel regularly, roughly 6-8x per year.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field. If no engineering degree, candidate must demonstrate at least 3 years of experience in a similar role
• Comfortable understanding of aerospace systems fundamentals, particularly as they apply to meeting launch vehicle payload requirements
• CAD design experience to augment mechanical design engineers in designing and procuring GSE to support launch integration
• Extensive first‑hand experience handling and integrating flight hardware
• Fundamental understanding of fastener torques, spaceflight material requirements, adhesive application, and other integration‑related aspects of mechanical engineering
• Comfortable interpreting assembly drawings
• Familiarity with SpaceX Falcon 9 and other launch vehicle rideshare requirements

This position requires access to export‑controlled commodities, technical data, technology, software, and services. U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 22 CFR §120.15 and 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3) is required.

Benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance options
• 401k matching
• 10 floating holidays
• 5 sick days
• 3 weeks (15 days) of PTO per year

Job Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $90k – 110k annually depending on experience level

Location: Onsite in Littleton, CO with 1-2 days/wk hybrid permitted