Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

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

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 principal-level mechanical engineer who has led the design of complex hardware from a blank sheet to a fielded product, and you've built the judgment that comes from seeing designs succeed and fail in test. You set technical direction, make the hard architecture calls, and raise the bar for everyone around you, while staying close to the hardware yourself. You might come from aerospace, automotive, motorsport, energy, industrial turbomachinery, or another field where hardware runs at the edge of its limits. Propulsion experience is highly valued but not required. What matters most is a record of leading hard mechanical programs to success.

At Astro Mechanica, you'll be a technical leader on Duality, our jet engine built to be efficient from takeoff through supersonic flight. You'll own the mechanical architecture of major engine systems and guide them from early prototype through flight qualification, vehicle integration, and aircraft flight. You'll set the test-like-you-fly standard for the team.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems, defining requirements, interfaces, and design approach

• Lead trade studies that shape engine configuration, and make clear, defensible decisions when the 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, hands-on guidance, 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 the work calls for it

• Lead root-cause investigations on hardware failures and drive corrective actions to closure

• Identify technical risks early and build the plans to retire them

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• 10+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, including technical leadership of complex hardware programs from concept through build and test

• A track record of owning the architecture of a major system or product, not just individual components

• Deep expertise in a major CAD package (Siemens NX preferred; we'll support your transition from CATIA, Creo, or SolidWorks)

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

• A strong command of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, with the judgment to know when analysis is good enough and when to go test

• Experience mentoring engineers and raising the technical bar of a team

• The ability to communicate complex technical tradeoffs clearly to engineers, leadership, and external stakeholders

• Comfort making decisions under uncertainty in a fast-moving environment

NICE TO HAVE:

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

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

• Flight hardware design, qualification, or certification experience

• Familiarity with data acquisition, instrumentation, and test program design

• Exposure to electromechanical systems or power electronics integration

• Experience at an early-stage hardware company during rapid growth

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.