Mechanical Designer IV

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Medical, dental, vision

Generous leave

HSA

401(k) matching

Equity participation

Job summary

Quantum Space, headquartered in the DMV area, seeks a Principal Mechanical Designer to own detailed CAD execution for flight hardware across spacecraft programs. You will translate packaging constraints into producible, testable hardware and shepherd designs through release, build, integration, and test with daily collaboration across mechanical, structures, thermal, AIT, and manufacturing teams.

Based in Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA, you will drive top-level Creo assemblies, GD&T, and BOM

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent spacecraft design work
• 10+ years of professional mechanical design experience in aerospace/spacecraft environments
• Expert proficiency in PTC Creo (top-down design, skeletons, family tables)
• Strong working knowledge of Windchill release workflows and configuration control
• Deep experience applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Proven ability to design for manufacturability across aerospace processes
• High ownership: drive release, build, and test through to completion
• Work location within the DMV area (DC/MD/VA)

Responsibilities

• Own detailed mechanical CAD for spacecraft structures, mechanisms, brackets, and mounts
• Maintain large Creo assemblies with strong configuration discipline
• Drive spacecraft packaging execution: volume, keep-outs, tool clearance
• Create, check, and release flight drawings with GD&T and material callouts
• Own BOM accuracy and Windchill metadata integrity
• Partner with AIT to ensure buildability and testability
• Support on-site spacecraft integration and iterations during build
• Provide design leadership and CAD best-practices
• Produce content for PDR/CDR and production readiness reviews

Skills

Creo CAD

Windchill

GD&T ASME Y14.5

Design for Manufacturability

Leadership / Mentorship

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Creo

Windchill

Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Designer to own the detailed CAD design execution and configuration quality of flight hardware across our Spacecraft Programs. This is a high-impact, hands-on design leadership role for someone who can take ambiguous spacecraft packaging constraints and translate them into clean, producible, testable hardware—then shepherd that design through release, build, integration, and test. You will partner daily with mechanical/structures/thermal engineers, AIT, manufacturing, supply chain, and systems to deliver flight-ready mechanical assemblies for Ranger spacecraft.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Own detailed mechanical CAD for spacecraft structures, mechanisms, secondary structure, brackets, harness routing accommodations, and payload mounting features
• Build and maintain large top-level Creo assemblies with strong configuration discipline: envelopes, mass properties, interference control, motion/clearance checks, access constraints, and fastener strategy
• Drive spacecraft packaging execution: volume optimization, keep-outs, service loops, access for torque/inspection, tool clearance, contamination control considerations, and integration sequence-friendly design
• Create, check, and release flight drawings (and drawing packages) with correct GD&T, material callouts, finishes, treatments, and inspection requirements (ASME Y14.5 mindset)
• Own BOM accuracy and part metadata integrity in Windchill (part lifecycle, revisioning, effectivity, serialization strategy where applicable)
• Partner with AIT to ensure designs are buildable and testable: torque access, alignment features, witness marks, datum strategy, handling points, lifting features, GSE interfaces
• Support on-site spacecraft integration: fit checks, rework disposition support, redlines-to-release, and fast iteration during build anomalies
• Provide design leadership and mentorship: define “good” CAD practices, model tree hygiene, drawing standards, and release readiness checklists
• Produce design content for PDR/CDR/production readiness reviews, including configuration views, interface snapshots, tolerance stack summaries, and assembly sequences

What It Takes

• BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field (or equivalent demonstrable work products in spacecraft/aerospace design)
• 10+ years of professional mechanical design experience in aerospace/spacecraft or similarly high-rigor hardware environments
• Expert proficiency in PTC Creo (top-down design, skeletons, family tables, interface control via publish geometry, large-assembly performance discipline)
• Strong working knowledge of Windchill release workflows and configuration control best practices
• Deep experience applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and translating intent into inspectable drawings
• Proven ability to design for manufacturability across common aerospace processes (machining, sheet metal, additive where appropriate, bonding, inserts/Heli-Coils, surface finishes)
• High ownership: you don't just "model parts"–you drive closure through release, build, and test
• Work location within the Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia (DMV) area

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Spacecraft or launch vehicle flight hardware design experience
• Direct experience supporting AIT on the floor (MRB disposition support, as-built capture, redline control)
• Familiarity with contamination control, torque practices, workmanship standards, and aerospace fastener conventions
• Experience with mechanism packaging and clearance validation

What You’ll Get

• Ownership – Be the design authority driving configuration quality on flight builds
• Innovation – Turn complex spacecraft packaging and design challenges into producible, testable flight hardware that pushes the boundaries of spacecraft design and enables faster iteration from concept to orbit
• Impact – Your CAD decisions will ship to orbit
• Growth – Lead design execution standards across spacecraft programs
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.

Location:

Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA

Base Salary: $125,000 - $175,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.