Senior Mechanical Engineer

Auxo Talent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Auxo Talent partners with a pioneering company building full-stack propellant production tech for the Moon and Mars. They seek a Principal or Senior Mechanical Engineer to join their LA team and own mechanical systems from requirements through flight hardware.

You'll lead architecture, trade studies, qualification planning, and test campaigns, collaborating with electrical, thermal, software, and manufacturing engineers to meet performance, risk, and milestone targets while driving engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience developing hardware systems for space applications; 10+ years for Principal level.
• Proficiency with CAD software (NX/CATIA/SolidWorks) and analysis tools (ANSYS/Abaqus).
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, structural analysis, and design for manufacture.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, design, development, and delivery of mechanical systems, subsystems, and components from requirements definition through to flight.
• Conduct trade studies and first-order engineering calculations to define system requirements and optimise performance.
• Develop qualification and verification plans in accordance with spaceflight testing standards.
• Plan, execute, and analyse subsystem and component testing in simulated launch and lunar environments.
• Collaborate with electrical, thermal, software, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to ensure designs meet performance, integration, and programme milestones.
• Drive the integration of mechanical systems while identifying and mitigating technical risks throughout development.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, product performance, and overall programme execution.
• Support design reviews, technical decision-making, and the continuous improvement of engineering best practices.

Skills

Space hardware development

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

We are partnering with a pioneering company developing a full-stack solution for commercial-scale rocket propellant production on the Moon and Mars. They are creating one of the key enabling technologies that will allow humanity to become a multi-planet species.

This is a true early-stage startup. The team is small, exceptionally talented, and moves quickly. Engineers are given significant ownership from day one, working across the entire product lifecycle from initial concepts and rapid prototyping through testing, qualification, and flight. If you enjoy solving complex engineering problems, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want to help build a company from the ground up, this is an opportunity to make a tangible impact.

They are seeking a Principal or Senior Mechanical Engineer to join their team in LA. In this role, you'll lead the development of mission-critical mechanical systems, taking ownership from requirements definition through to flight hardware.

Responsibilities:

• Own the architecture, design, development, and delivery of mechanical systems, subsystems, and components from requirements definition through to flight.
• Conduct trade studies and first-order engineering calculations to define system requirements and optimise performance.
• Develop qualification and verification plans in accordance with spaceflight testing standards.
• Plan, execute, and analyse subsystem and component testing in simulated launch and lunar environments.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, thermal, software, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to ensure designs meet performance, integration, and programme milestones.
• Drive the integration of mechanical systems while identifying and mitigating technical risks throughout development.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, product performance, and overall programme execution.
• Support design reviews, technical decision-making, and the continuous improvement of engineering best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience developing hardware systems for space applications (10+ years for Principal level).
• Proficiency with CAD software such as NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
• Experience using engineering analysis tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or similar.
• Strong understanding of engineering materials, manufacturing processes, structural analysis, and design for manufacture.

Preferred:

• Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Proven track record of owning spaceflight hardware across the full product lifecycle, including design, analysis, qualification, testing, and operations.
• Planning and executing environmental qualification campaigns, including shock, vibration, thermal, and other spaceflight testing.

Extensive experience with one or more of the following:

• Space-qualified electromechanical rotary actuators and drive systems.
• Space mechanisms, including deployables, flexures, and passive mechanisms.
• Rigid body dynamics and vibration analysis.

If you'd like more information regarding this role, please contact Yasmin Hamdy at [e-mail]