Senior Mechanical Engineer

InnoForge; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Direct access to engineering team

Opportunity to influence hardware

Job summary

InnoForge is seeking Senior / Principal Mechanical Engineers for Space Systems in California. You will own mechanical subsystems, perform vibration/structural analyses, and guide design, build, test, and qualification across lunar robotics and deployables.

The roles emphasize hands-on hardware responsibility and deep first-principles reasoning. Strong experience in hardware development cycles and mechatronics is valuable, with equity options and direct access to a broader engineering team.

Qualifications

• Experience taking hardware through its full development cycle.
• Mechatronics experience and willingness to get involved in builds and testing.

Responsibilities

• Own a mechanical subsystem or a specialist analysis area.
• Make design decisions using calculations, simulation and test results.
• Take hardware through prototyping, detailed design, assembly and integration.
• Support environmental testing, qualification and flight readiness.
• Investigate failures and use findings to improve design.
• Work with avionics, software, manufacturing and systems engineers.
• Mentor less experienced engineers.

Skills

Vibration analysis

Structural analysis

Space mechanisms

Bearings design

Gear design

Job description

Senior / Principal Mechanical Engineer | Space Systems

Type: Full-time, on-site

Package: Salary + equity, dependent on role and experience

I’m working with two early-stage space companies hiring experienced mechanical engineers across lunar robotics, space mechanisms and payload deployment systems.

There are several positions available, ranging from specialist analysis roles to broader responsibility for mechanical subsystems through design, build, test and qualification.

These would suit engineers who want substantial technical responsibility while staying directly involved in the hardware.

Areas of interest

You don’t need experience in everything listed below. We’re looking for depth in one or more of these areas:

• Vibration and shock analysis: The first priority for one of the hires, particularly someone who can use their understanding of structural dynamics to guide design and testing.
• Structural analysis: Loads, stiffness, strength and structural performance.
• Space mechanisms and deployables: Moving assemblies, deployment systems, linkages and flexures.
• Bearing design and analysis: Selection, sizing and integration into demanding mechanical systems.
• Gear design and analysis: Gears, gearboxes and electromechanical drive systems.

The work

Depending on the position, you’ll:

• Own a mechanical subsystem or take responsibility for a specialist area of analysis.
• Make design decisions using calculations, simulation and test results.
• Take hardware through prototyping, detailed design, assembly and integration.
• Support environmental testing, qualification and flight readiness.
• Investigate failures and use the findings to improve the design.
• Work closely with avionics, software, manufacturing and systems engineers.
• Help less experienced engineers develop their technical judgement.

What they’re looking for

Strong technical depth and first-principles reasoning are central to these hires. You should be able to explain why a design will work, question assumptions and consider a different approach when there is a sound engineering case for it.

Experience taking hardware through its full development cycle would be valuable, along with mechatronics experience and a willingness to get involved in builds and testing.

Space hardware experience is particularly relevant to the rover and deployables positions.

Why consider a move?

Both companies are at a stage where you can influence major engineering decisions and take responsibility for how the hardware develops.

There is equity available, direct access to the wider engineering team and scope to match the position to your technical strengths. Some openings also offer broader technical leadership responsibility.