Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer

Nova Solvers; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based incentives

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Company 401(k)

Paid time off & holidays

Flexible hybrid work

Professional development

Job summary

Nova Solvers is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer to lead design, development, integration, and qualification of spacecraft structures, mechanisms, and flight hardware. You will work across architecture trades through environmental qualification and mission deployment with multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on hardware experience with strong analytical skills and has delivered high-reliability aerospace systems through design, integration, and test.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of spacecraft/aerospace hardware development experience.
• Experience through design, integration, environmental testing, and qualification.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, NX).
• Familiarity with GD&T principles and aerospace manufacturing processes.
• Experience with vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and environmental testing campaigns.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced development environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and development of spacecraft, payloads, avionics, and supporting hardware.
• Develop spacecraft structural architectures, packaging concepts, and mechanical layouts.
• Design primary and secondary spacecraft structures, brackets, panels, enclosures, and mounting systems.
• Perform structural, thermal, vibration, and dynamic analyses.
• Generate engineering drawings, CAD models, specifications, and design documentation.
• Support requirements development, system trades, and design reviews.
• Develop mass budgets, structural margins, and hardware performance assessments.
• Design for manufacturability, assembly, integration, and test.
• Support supplier selection, fabrication oversight, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Develop and oversee qualification and acceptance test programs.
• Coordinate with electrical, systems, software, manufacturing, and mission engineering teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering process improvements.

Skills

Mechanical design

Aerospace hardware

GD&T

3D CAD

Vibration testing

Systems collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

FEA tools

Job description

The Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer will lead the design, analysis, integration, and qualification of spacecraft structures, mechanisms, and flight hardware supporting advanced space missions.

About Nova Solvers

Nova Solvers is an advanced engineering company developing spacecraft, avionics, sensing systems, autonomous technologies, and mission-critical solutions for commercial, civil, defense, and national security customers. Our team specializes in transforming complex challenges into innovative, high-performance systems that operate in the most demanding environments. We are passionate about building technologies that enable the next generation of space missions and defense capabilities.

The Role

Nova Solvers is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, and qualification of spacecraft structures, mechanisms, payload packaging, and flight hardware. This role will support programs from early architecture trades through environmental qualification and mission deployment, working closely with electrical, systems, manufacturing, and mission engineering teams.

The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with hands-on hardware development experience and has successfully delivered spacecraft or other high-reliability aerospace systems through design, integration, and test.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and development of spacecraft, payloads, avionics, and supporting hardware.
• Develop spacecraft structural architectures, packaging concepts, and mechanical layouts.
• Design primary and secondary spacecraft structures, brackets, panels, enclosures, and mounting systems.
• Perform structural, thermal, vibration, and dynamic analyses.
• Generate engineering drawings, CAD models, specifications, and design documentation.
• Support requirements development, system trades, and design reviews.
• Develop mass budgets, structural margins, and hardware performance assessments.
• Design for manufacturability, assembly, integration, and test.
• Support supplier selection, fabrication oversight, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Develop and oversee qualification and acceptance test programs.
• Support environmental testing including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and thermal cycling.
• Perform failure investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Support spacecraft integration, launch preparation, and mission readiness activities.
• Coordinate with electrical, systems, software, manufacturing, and mission engineering teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering process improvements.
• Support customer meetings, technical presentations, and proposal efforts.

What We Look For

We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving challenging mechanical problems and taking ownership of flight hardware. Successful candidates are highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and capable of balancing analysis, design, manufacturing, and integration considerations to deliver mission-ready systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of spacecraft, satellite, aerospace, or defense hardware development experience.
• Experience supporting spacecraft programs through design, integration, environmental testing, and qualification.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or equivalent.
• Experience developing engineering drawings and applying GD&T principles.
• Familiarity with spacecraft structures, mechanisms, materials, and thermal control approaches.
• Experience supporting vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and environmental testing campaigns.
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing, assembly, and integration processes.
• Experience supporting hardware builds from concept through flight qualification.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced development environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Experience supporting GEO, LEO, cislunar, or deep-space spacecraft programs.
• Familiarity with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Nastran, Abaqus, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting spacecraft integration and launch campaigns.
• Experience with composite structures, lightweight spacecraft architectures, and thermal management systems.
• Familiarity with NASA, MIL-STD, ECSS, IPC, and aerospace development standards.
• Prior experience supporting NASA, DoD, intelligence community, or commercial spacecraft programs.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance.

What We Offer

At Nova Solvers, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing advanced technologies that support some of the most challenging missions in space and defense. We provide an environment where individuals can take ownership, contribute directly to mission success, and help build technologies that matter.

Compensation and Benefits

• Performance-based incentive opportunities.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Company-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays.
• Flexible hybrid work environment.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
• Opportunity to work alongside industry-leading engineers developing next-generation space and defense technologies.

This position is primarily onsite and involves spacecraft design, engineering analysis, manufacturing support, hardware integration, and environmental qualification activities. Candidates should be comfortable working in engineering laboratories, cleanrooms, production environments, and spacecraft integration facilities.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to develop the structures, mechanisms, and mechanical systems that enable next-generation spacecraft, advanced payloads, and autonomous space missions. Your work will directly influence mission performance, reliability, and long-term operational success.

Our Vision and Values

We believe that innovation happens when talented people are empowered to solve difficult problems. Our culture is built on technical excellence, integrity, ownership, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering solutions that matter.

We Care Deeply About

• Mission Success
• Technical Excellence
• Innovation and Continuous Learning
• Integrity and Accountability
• Teamwork and Respect
• Delivering Real-World Impact

Location

This position is primarily onsite to support program execution, customer interaction, and spacecraft development activities.

Security & Export Control

To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations, applicants must be (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. As a result, applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Nova Solvers is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and inclusion. We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and believe they strengthen our ability to innovate and solve complex challenges. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.