Lead Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Hardware & Systems

EVONA; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

EVONA seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to take technical ownership of major spacecraft mechanical systems, including structures, mechanisms, and fluid hardware.

You will design, analyze, and guide engineering decisions, mentor teammates, and collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and test teams. This role demands hands-on problem solving and strong system-level thinking in a fast-paced space environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Significant experience developing complex aerospace or space hardware.
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals across structures, materials, and manufacturing.
• Experience owning major hardware or subsystems from concept through qualification or flight.
• Ability to work from first principles and make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information.
• Experience leading technical reviews and influencing multidisciplinary engineering decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of primary and secondary spacecraft structures.
• Own mechanical architecture and integration across major spacecraft subsystems.
• Design and integrate fluid and pressure systems, tubing, routing, packaging, and interfaces.
• Lead mechanical system trades and first-principles analysis to guide vehicle-level decisions.
• Develop and review CAD models, drawings, GD&T, interface definitions, and documentation.
• Perform and review structural and mechanical analysis using hand calculations, FEA, Python, MATLAB, and other tools.
• Drive hardware through manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test.
• Define structural and mechanical test approaches and troubleshoot hardware during development.
• Lead design reviews and provide technical mentorship to other engineers.

Skills

Mechanical design fundamentals

CAD & GD&T

First principles thinking

Technical leadership

Hands-on engineering

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CAD software

FEM/FEA

Job description

EVONA seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to take technical ownership of major spacecraft mechanical systems, including structures, mechanisms, and fluid hardware.

You will design, analyze, and guide engineering decisions, mentor teammates, and collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and test teams. This role demands hands-on problem solving and strong system-level thinking in a fast-paced space environment.