Principal Mechanical Design Architect - Jet Engine Systems

Astro Mechanica CORP.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) savings plan

Flexible time-off

Flexible work environment

Team lunches

Job summary

Astro Mechanica CORP. seeks a principal-level mechanical engineer to own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems from concept through flight qualification.

You will guide design decisions, drive trade studies, and set engineering standards while staying hands-on in CAD, prototyping, and testing. Ideal candidates bring 10+ years of hardware leadership, deep CAD experience (NX preferred), and a proven ability to mentor engineers across propulsion, aircraft, and test teams in a

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience leading complex hardware from concept to fielded product.
• Track record owning architecture of major systems, not just components.
• Deep CAD expertise with NX preferred; other CADs accepted with ability to transition.
• Experience in machining, additive, sheet metal, GD&T
• Strong understanding of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics
• Experience mentoring engineers and raising the technical bar
• Ability to communicate complex tradeoffs to engineers, leadership, and external stakeholders
• Comfort making decisions under uncertainty in a fast-moving environment

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems, defining requirements, interfaces, and design approach.
• Lead trade studies to shape engine configuration and make defensible decisions when data is incomplete.
• Set design standards, analysis practices, and review rigor across the mechanical design team.
• Lead design reviews and serve as the technical authority on mechanical design questions.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers through design reviews and day-to-day collaboration.
• Work across propulsion, aircraft, test, and manufacturing teams to resolve system-level tradeoffs.
• Stay hands-on in CAD, analysis, prototype builds, and testing when required.
• Lead root-cause investigations on hardware failures and drive corrective actions to closure.

Skills

Hands-on design

Technical leadership

Siemens NX CAD

Manufacturing know-how

Structural analysis

Mentoring engineers

Communication of tradeoffs

Decision making

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Siemens NX

CATIA

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

Astro Mechanica CORP. seeks a principal-level mechanical engineer to own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems from concept through flight qualification.

You will guide design decisions, drive trade studies, and set engineering standards while staying hands-on in CAD, prototyping, and testing. Ideal candidates bring 10+ years of hardware leadership, deep CAD experience (NX preferred), and a proven ability to mentor engineers across propulsion, aircraft, and test teams in a