Mechanical Design Engineer (Electric Propulsion)

Industrious Ventures; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Stock options

401(k) matching

Job summary

General Galactic, based in Los Angeles, CA, is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer (Electric Propulsion) to own the mechanical design of propulsion hardware across our product line. You will take concepts through prototyping, qualification, and flight, applying fundamentals of materials science, mechanical design, and plasma physics in a fast-paced startup environment.

Responsibilities include defining propulsion hardware components, performing CAD/FEA, and generating test plans to qualify

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar degree.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design and analysis, with a preference towards prior work on aerospace applications.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software, including deep knowledge of structural and thermal analyses.
• Experience with technical drawings, including GD&T.
• Experience in design and test of pressurized components and systems.
• Demonstrated ability in principles of mechanical design, fluids, and materials science.
• Experience in a fast-paced startup environment or similar.
• Strong engineering background and first-principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the mechanical design of electric propulsion hardware including critical thruster and cathode components, propellant management system, secondary structures, and more.
• Take your designs from concept through completion, including material selection, finite-element analysis, and design for manufacturing (DFM).
• Generate CAD models and drawings with proficient application of GD&T.
• Build and test your designs in the lab, and perform analysis in order to iterate on designs.
• Create qualification and acceptance test plans and qualify your designs through vibration, shock, TVAC, and other testing.

Skills

CAD

FEA

GD& T

Thermal analysis

Mechanical design

Aerospace experience

Problem solving

Startup experience

Education

BS in mechanical engineering or aerospace

Job description

About General Galactic

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high‑energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way. Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm‑shifting water‑based technology to reshape the space domain for good.

Job Description

As a Mechanical Design Engineer (Electric Propulsion), you will work closely with a focused technical team to design and analyze critical electric propulsion hardware for our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles, Genesis propulsion systems, and more. You will have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company.

In particular, you will own and build the components of General Galactic’s electric propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters. You will own your designs from requirements definition and architecture through prototyping, qualification and flight. This is a hands‑on role that requires experience in fundamentals of material science, mechanical design, plasma physics, and other disciplines.

Responsibilities may include:

• Define and own the mechanical design of electric propulsion hardware including critical thruster and cathode components, propellant management system, secondary structures, and more.
• Take your designs from concept through completion, including material. selection, finite‑element analysis, and design for manufacturing (DFM).
• Generate CAD models and drawings with proficient application of GD&T.
• Build and test your designs in the lab, and perform analysis in order to iterate on designs.
• Create qualification and acceptance test plans and qualify your designs through vibration, shock, TVAC, and other testing.

Requirements

Successful applicants should have most of the following:

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar degree.
• 3+ years of hands‑on experience in mechanical design and analysis, with a preference towards prior work on aerospace applications.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software, including deep knowledge of structural and thermal analyses.
• Experience with technical drawings, including GD&T.
• Experience in design and test of pressurized components and systems.
• Demonstrated ability in principles of mechanical design, fluids, and materials science.
• Experience in a fast‑paced startup environment or similar.
• Strong engineering background and first‑principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information.

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Your salary and incentives will be determined individually on the basis of the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more!

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.