Mechanical Design Engineer II

Astro Mechanica CORP.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending accounts

401(k)

Stock options

PTO

Holidays

Sick time

Flexible work

Team lunches

Swag

Job summary

Astro Mechanica CORP. in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer to own hardware from concept to production.

You will design Duality™ jet engine components and subsystems, carrying designs through prototype, flight qualification, and vehicle integration with a test‑driven mindset. You’ll work with propulsion, aircraft, and test teams to verify performance, analyze results, and drive improvements.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling; Siemens NX preferred with transition support from other tools.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including machining, additive, sheet metal, and GD&T.
• Understanding of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Track record of designed parts that were built, tested, and improved from test results.
• Comfort in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• High standards for detail and quality.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design of engine components and subsystems, from trade studies through detailed design and release.
• Weigh system-level impacts in design trades, collaborating with propulsion, aircraft, and test teams.
• Complete detailed design and support structural, thermal, and fluid analyses.
• Present design reviews and incorporate stakeholder feedback to strengthen designs.
• Assemble prototypes, design tooling, and write work instructions.
• Test hardware and analyze data to verify requirements and performance.
• Diagnose hardware problems quickly and drive corrective actions.

Skills

Hands-on design

CAD modeling

Manufacturing know-how

Structural analysis

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Test data analysis

Detail-oriented

Tools

Siemens NX

CATIA

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

WHO WE ARE:

We're a team of hardcore engineers who live and breathe aerospace. We’re generalists who each have subject matter expertise and operate in a flat organizational structure. We move fast and build world-changing technology in a pragmatic and competent workplace culture.

WHO YOU ARE:

You’re a mechanical design engineer who takes full ownership of hardware from concept to production, and you understand how your designs affect the systems around them. You solve technical problems from first principles, and you’d rather build and test than theorize. You might come from aerospace, automotive, motorsport, robotics, energy, industrial machinery, or another field where hardware has to perform under real loads, temperatures, and pressures. Prior propulsion experience is a plus but not required. We’ll teach you the engine; we’re hiring for design judgment and hands-on rigor.

At Astro Mechanica, you’ll design hardware for Duality™, our jet engine built to be efficient from takeoff through supersonic flight. You’ll carry your designs from early prototype through flight qualification, vehicle integration, and aircraft flight, and you’ll embody the test-like-you-fly philosophy along the way.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Own the mechanical design of engine components and subsystems, from trade studies through detailed design and release

• Weigh system-level impacts in your design trades, working closely with the propulsion, aircraft, and test teams

• Complete detailed design and support structural, thermal, and fluid analyses

• Present design reviews and use feedback from stakeholders to strengthen your designs

• Assemble prototypes firsthand, design supporting tooling, and write work instructions

• Test hardware and analyze the data to verify requirements and performance

• Diagnose hardware problems quickly and drive corrective actions

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, taking hardware from concept through build and test

• Proficiency in solid, surface, and sheet metal CAD modeling in a major CAD package (Siemens NX preferred; we’ll support your transition from CATIA, Creo, or SolidWorks)

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, including machining, additive, and sheet metal, along with precision measurement and GD&T

• A working understanding of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics

• A track record of designing parts that got built, tested, and improved based on what the tests showed

• Comfort in a fast-paced environment where priorities change as test results come in

• High standards for detail and quality in your work

NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with propulsion systems, such as gas turbines, rocket engines, or other turbomachinery

• Experience with high-temperature, high-speed rotating, or pressurized hardware

• Familiarity with data acquisition and instrumentation

• Exposure to electromechanical systems or power electronics integration

• Experience with flight hardware or qualification testing

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

• Company-funded perks, including weekly team lunches and Astro Mechanica swag

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.