Senior/Principal Mechanical Engineer

starpath.space; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Holidays

Flexible policies

Training & development

High-impact work

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Starpath Robotics is seeking a Senior/Principal Mechanical Engineer to develop critical mechanical systems for the Rover platform, from requirements to flight. You may work on actuators, structures, thermal control, and autonomy hardware integration in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

You will own architectures and collaborate across teams to meet milestones and drive high-impact, mission-driven robotics for space exploration.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience developing hardware systems for space applications.
• Experience with CAD (NX, Catia, SolidWorks, etc) and analysis tools (ANSYS, ABAQUS, etc).
• Working knowledge of engineering materials, manufacturing processes, and structural analysis.
• Strong technical communication and ability to work in a fast-paced team.

Responsibilities

• Own architectures, systems, subsystems, and components from requirements to deployment.
• Conduct trade studies and perform first-order calculations to define system requirements.
• Determine qualification testing criteria per spaceflight testing standards.
• Validate subsystems & components via testing in simulated launch/Lunar environments.
• Collaborate with electrical/thermal/software teams to meet integration milestones.
• Identify and implement high-level improvements to program operation and direction.

Skills

CAD software

FEM analysis tools

Materials & manufacturing knowledge

Technical communication

Space hardware experience

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

Catia

SolidWorks

ANSYS

ABAQUS

Job description

Position Details:

• Location: Los Angeles (Hawthorne), CA
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Department: Starmine
• Travel: Occasional

The Mission

Starpath Robotics is developing a full-stack solution for commercial scale rocket propellant production on the Moon and Mars. We are building one of the key enabling technologies that will make humans a multi-planet species.

If high ownership, fast pace, working with hardware, and solving challenging technical problems sound like a dream come true, come join the team!

Senior/Principal Mechanical Engineer

In this role, you will be responsible for the development of critical mechanical systems on Starpath’s Rover platform. Depending on your prior work experience, you may work on a variety of systems, such as: (1) low-cost, high-reliability electromechanical actuators, (2) various structures and passive mechanisms, or (3) thermal control systems and autonomy hardware integration. You will own these systems from developing design requirements through to flight.

Responsibilities:

• Own architectures, systems, subsystems, and components from requirements to deployment
• Conduct trade studies and perform first-order calculations to define system requirements
• Determine qualification testing criteria in accordance with spaceflight testing standards
• Validate subsystems & components via testing in a simulated launch/Lunar environments
• Work cross-functionally with adjacent teams to incorporate electrical/thermal/software requirements while meeting integration timeless and system milestones
• Identify & action high-level improvements to program operation and direction

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of experience developing hardware systems for space applications
• Experience with CAD (NX, Catia, SolidWorks, etc) and analysis (ANSYS, ABAQUS, etc) tools
• Working knowledge of engineering materials, manufacturing processes, and structural analysis
• Strong technical communication and the ability to work in a fast-paced team environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• 10+ years of experience developing hardware systems for space applications
• Track record of owning spaceflight hardware across the entire product lifecycle (design, analysis, qualification, and operation)
• Extensive experience with one of the following:
  • Space-grade electromechanical rotary actuators and drive systems
  • Space mechanisms (passive, flexures, deployables, etc)
  • Rigid body dynamics and/or vibration analysis
• Experience running shock, vibration, thermal, and other environmental qualification campaigns

EAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity:

• Starpath is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Benefits:

At Starpath Robotics, base pay is just one part of your total rewards package. We also offer:

• Generous benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
• Paid time off, holidays, and flexible policies to support balance.
• Professional growth opportunities through training and development.
• The chance to own high-impact work that directly shapes the future of robotics & space!
• A collaborative, mission-driven culture where craftsmanship and innovation are celebrated.