Mechanical & Structural Engineer

EVONA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Unlimited PTO

Healthcare

Job summary

EVONA in Los Angeles is seeking a Mechanical & Structural Engineer to help build the physical infrastructure of space systems from day one. You will shape spacecraft structures and deployable systems for flight readiness.

As an early hardware hire, you will own design, analysis, and integration work, collaborating with suppliers and manufacturing partners to turn concepts into flight hardware. This role offers equity and a fast-paced startup environment where ownership and rapid iteration drive

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical or structural engineering in spacecraft or aerospace hardware
• Experience designing deployable structures or mechanisms such as solar arrays, radiators, antennas, booms, or similar systems
• Strong structural analysis experience using tools such as Siemens NX, ANSYS, ABAQUS, or NASTRAN
• Solid understanding of launch environments, vibration, shock, structural dynamics, and aerospace materials
• Experience taking hardware from concept through design, manufacturing, integration, and testing
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with high ownership and rapid iteration
• Hands-on engineering mindset with a passion for solving complex multidisciplinary problems

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of spacecraft primary structures and structural architecture from concept through flight
• Design deployable mechanical systems including solar arrays, radiator panels, hinges, latches, and deployment mechanisms
• Perform structural analysis including FEA, modal analysis, vibration, shock, and launch load assessments
• Own spacecraft mass properties, centre of gravity, and mechanical packaging across the vehicle
• Support hardware through fabrication, integration, environmental testing, and qualification
• Work closely with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and test facilities
• Help establish mechanical engineering processes, design standards, and manufacturing practices within a growing engineering team

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Structural engineering

Deployable structures

Finite element analysis

Launch environment knowledge

Tools

Siemens NX

ANSYS

ABAQUS

NASTRAN

Job description

Mechanical & Structural Engineer | Space Start-up | Equity

Help Build the Physical Infrastructure of Computing in Space

We're partnering with an ambitious early-stage aerospace company developing next-generation spacecraft designed to unlock entirely new capabilities in orbit. By combining advanced satellite technology with large-scale power generation and high-performance computing, they're tackling one of the biggest infrastructure challenges of the coming decade.

As one of the first hardware engineers on the team, you'll play a critical role in designing the spacecraft structures and deployable systems that make the mission possible. This is a rare opportunity to help shape both the product and the engineering culture from the ground up.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the design and development of spacecraft primary structures and structural architecture from concept through flight
• Design deployable mechanical systems including solar arrays, radiator panels, hinges, latches, and deployment mechanisms
• Perform structural analysis including FEA, modal analysis, vibration, shock, and launch load assessments
• Own spacecraft mass properties, centre of gravity, and mechanical packaging across the vehicle
• Support hardware through fabrication, integration, environmental testing, and qualification
• Work closely with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and test facilities
• Help establish mechanical engineering processes, design standards, and manufacturing practices within a growing engineering team

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of mechanical or structural engineering experience within spacecraft or aerospace hardware
• Experience designing deployable structures or mechanisms such as solar arrays, radiators, antennas, booms, or similar systems
• Strong structural analysis experience using tools such as Siemens NX, ANSYS, ABAQUS, or NASTRAN
• Solid understanding of launch environments, vibration, shock, structural dynamics, and aerospace materials
• Experience taking hardware from concept through design, manufacturing, integration, and testing
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with high ownership and rapid iteration
• Hands-on engineering mindset with a passion for solving complex multidisciplinary problems

Nice to Have

• Experience with large deployable spacecraft structures or roll-out solar array technology
• Background in commercial space or leading aerospace organisations
• Experience with composite structures and design for manufacture
• Exposure to production-focused spacecraft development
• Practical fabrication, machining, or prototyping experience

Why Apply?

• Own major spacecraft hardware from day one with significant technical responsibility
• Work on complex deployable systems that must survive launch and perform flawlessly in orbit
• Join an exceptionally small, high-performing engineering team where your decisions have immediate impact
• See your designs move rapidly from concept to flight hardware
• Competitive salary, comprehensive healthcare, unlimited PTO, and the opportunity to help build a category-defining space company.