Lead Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle Engineering

Astrolab; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Lunch stipend

Job summary

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will depend on—rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon.

As Lead Structures Engineer, you and your team will design, develop, test, and operate planetary rovers and related hardware with cradle-to-grave accountability. You will mentor junior engineers, set best-practices for structures design, analysis, and test, and deliver high-performance structures for space

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM field and 4+ years in a design role at a space company.
• Experience with space industry design principles, FEA methods, and test design.
• Experience developing hardware to meet space industry standards.
• Experience leading a design team from start to finish and mentoring juniors.

Responsibilities

• Define best practices for structures design, analysis, and test with leadership.
• Design mechanical and thermal platforms at the architectural level.
• Build tools to improve team and company efficiency.
• Set team priorities and manage progress through program phases.
• Develop and train junior mechanical engineers.

Skills

Team leadership

FEM analysis

Structural design

Mentoring

Hardware design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

NASA standards

Finite element analysis

Test design & execution

Job description

Compensation: $157,000 - $190,000 / year

Department: Vehicle Engineering

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $157,000 - $190,000 / year

Description

Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

As a Lead Structures Engineer, you and your team will design, develop, test, and operate planetary rovers and related hardware. You will be responsible for producing high-performance designs for challenging environments, with cradle-to-grave accountability. You will have the opportunity to develop and mentor other engineers while working on novel, complex mechanical systems.

What you'll do

• Work with leadership and design counterparts to define Astrolab best practices for structures design, analysis, and test
• Design mechanical and thermal platforms at the architectural level
• Build tools and infrastructure to make your team and the company more efficient
• Set team priorities and manage progress through various program phases
• Develop and train junior mechanical engineers

What you'll bring

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
• 4+ years of experience in a design role at a space company
• Experience with space industry design principles, finite element analysis methods, test design & execution
• Experience developing hardware to meet space industry design standards and best practices
• Experience leading a team through a design program start-to-finish
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers, contractors, and interns to build an effective design team

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
• Experience with NASA technical standards for design, analysis, and test
• Experience with structural dynamics analysis and test methods
• Experience with thermal analysis methods and tools

Benefits and Perks

• Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
• Equity ownership in the company
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Flexible PTO and parental leave
• Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
• Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks