Mechanical Engineer, Technical Lead

Stratolaunch; Mojave (CA); On-site; USD 120,500 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule

Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)

Paid Maternity and Parental Leave

401(k) company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading aerospace engineering firm in Mojave, California is seeking a Senior or Staff Level Structural or Mechanical Engineer to lead the development of hypersonic flight vehicles. This role involves guiding multi-disciplinary engineering teams, making critical technical decisions, and ensuring projects meet customer specifications. Candidates should have significant experience in prototype development and excellent communication skills. Join a company committed to innovation and national security efforts in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience with rapid development of prototype vehicles.
• Experience with composite structures analysis and design.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritize tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead a diverse team of engineers in developing vehicle improvements.
• Ensure compliance with structural requirements and project goals.
• Conduct structural design reviews and provide final technical decisions.

Skills

Structures

Mechanical systems

Technical leadership

Excellent written & verbal communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.)

Tools

CATIA

Solidworks

Configuration management systems

Job description

On-site

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Sr or Staff level Structural or Mechanical Engineer to lead continued development and improvements for the small fleet of air-launched, Talon-A hypersonic flight vehicle systems. This position requires leading a multi-disciplined group of engineers to design, build, integrate, and test vehicle and payload system improvements to meet customer requirements and need. An ideal candidate has prototype development or small scale-production experience, with focus in thermal-structural-mechanical design, leading to first flights.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work hand-in-hand with the program responsible engineers, Payload Lead, and Talon-A Chief Engineer to lead the program to a successful outcome
• Lead a diverse team of mechanical engineers, structural engineers, structural analysts, dynamics analysts, and manufacturing engineers
• Lead structural development of the hypersonic vehicle system improvements and integration of payloads, including trade studies and structural layout
• Responsible for making final technical decisions for the structures subsystem
• Lead the successful execution of structural design reviews to advance the program vehicles through manufacturing and flight test
• Lead structural systems engineering approach, which may include: creating and dispositioning structural requirements, mass properties management, guiding the configuration management of models, reviewing and approving documents/reports/analyses, setting engineering and design best practices and standards for the structures team, waiving or approving ground testing based on structural technical risk assessments, etc.
• Regular and comprehensive communication to program Chief Engineer
• Contribute to the integration of complex aerospace systems
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of, and experience with, one or more of these disciplines: structures, loads, structural-thermal analysis, mechanical systems, aircraft systems, aircraft operations, launch vehicle integration
• Significant experience with the rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles, including full life-cycle involvement on at least one program
• Significant experience as a structural or mechanical design engineer on a structures team
• Technical leadership experience
• Experience with composite structures analysis, design, and manufacturing
• Experience with technical aerospace leadership, including working with sub-contractors
• Experience with risk management
• Experience working in small engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities
• Excellent written & verbal communication
• Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
• Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance

Required Computer Skills:

• MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook)
• Configuration management systems such as JIRA, GIT, JAMA, etc.
• 3D CAD experience - CATIA or Solidworks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development
• Experience with air-launched vehicle development
• Experience with BMI or epoxy pre‑preg composites
• Experience with static structural testing
• Active TS/SCI security clearance

Preferred Computer Skills:

• Experience with FEMAP and NX NASTRAN
• Programming - Python, C++, or Matlab

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Sr Level ($120,500-$158,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Staff Level ($157,000-$206,000): Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Position based in Mojave, CA.
• Travel, as needed, to support the department. Travel estimated to be <10%

Benefits and our location(s):

• 9/80 schedule
• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’ll be within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight‑seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law:

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf