Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer Hardware

Frontdoor Defense; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

CesiumAstro in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead end-to-end mechanical design for spacecraft hardware.

You will apply advanced engineering principles across multiple programs, mentor engineers, and drive reliability, manufacturability, and performance improvements through rigorous analyses, design reviews, and cross-functional collaboration.

Join a dynamic, cross-functional team developing cutting-edge communication systems for satellites and airborne platforms.

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical/aerospace engineering with extensive experience.
• Experience designing mechanical components and manufacturing solutions across programs.
• Proficiency with CAD and engineering analysis tools.
• Strong problem-solving and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end mechanical design for spacecraft hardware.
• Evaluate structural performance, thermal behavior, tolerance requirements, manufacturability, and interfaces.
• Lead complex engineering analyses, design reviews, and technical studies.
• Mentor engineers and promote best practices across programs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD tools

Thermal analysis

GD&T

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree + 12-15 years experience in mechanical engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Ansys

MATLAB

Windchill

Jira

Job description

Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

Lead end-to-end mechanical design for CesiumAstro spacecraft hardware

Location: El Segundo, California

Compensation: $165,000 - 199,000 USD / year

About The Role

Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to our team. In this role you will apply advanced mechanical engineering principles to develop and improve mechanical systems, structures, mechanisms, and hardware supporting complex products and platforms. This role contributes to product development by solving highly complex technical challenges, advancing mechanical engineering methodologies, and serving as a primary technical resource across multiple programs to improve product performance, manufacturability, reliability, quality, and mission success.

Working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations teams, this role supports mechanical engineering activities throughout the product development lifecycle.

Responsibilities include:

• Apply mechanical engineering principles to develop mechanical systems, structures, mechanisms, assemblies, and engineering solutions across multiple products and manufacturing programs.
• Evaluate structural performance, thermal behavior, tolerance requirements, manufacturability, and mechanical interfaces to advance mechanical engineering methodologies and design approaches.
• Lead complex engineering analyses, structural evaluations, thermal assessments, design trade studies, and technical reviews requiring ingenuity to resolve challenging mechanical engineering issues.
• Lead highly complex mechanical verification, qualification, validation, and testing activities supporting engineering and manufacturing objectives.
• Evaluate engineering data, test results, inspection findings, manufacturing information, and product performance while developing solutions that improve mechanical system performance and reliability.
• Guide root cause investigations, engineering changes, corrective actions, and design improvements supporting successful product development and manufacturing.
• Serve as a primary technical resource for mechanical engineering across significant engineering and manufacturing initiatives.
• Provide mechanical engineering guidance through design reviews, engineering investigations, manufacturing reviews, supplier evaluations, and complex technical problem resolution.
• Promote consistent mechanical engineering practices by mentoring engineers and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Advance mechanical engineering methodologies, design practices, engineering standards, verification approaches, and analytical techniques across multiple programs.
• Evaluate mechanical engineering methods, design practices, manufacturing processes, and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead initiatives that enhance product performance, manufacturability, reliability, quality, design efficiency, and engineering effectiveness.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, industrial design, engineering technology, or a related technical field with 12-15 years of related experience, or Master's degree with 8-12 years of related experience, or PhD with 5-8 years of related experience in mechanical engineering, structural analysis, stress analysis, CAD, product design, or a related engineering discipline.
• Substantial knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, machine design, structural analysis, mechanical systems, and product development methodologies.
• Extensive experience designing mechanical components, assemblies, structures, mechanisms, and manufacturing solutions across multiple engineering programs.
• Comprehensive understanding of engineering analysis, structural analysis, thermal analysis, tolerance analysis, GD&T, manufacturing processes, product verification, and system integration.
• Develops innovative solutions for highly complex mechanical engineering challenges while advancing technical capabilities across multiple engineering efforts.
• Exercises sound judgment while guiding technical decisions, mentoring engineers, and advancing mechanical engineering methodologies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Mechanical design, CAD, simulation, and engineering analysis tools, e.g. SolidWorks, Creo, ANSYS, MATLAB, or equivalent applications.
• Engineering documentation, PLM, ERP, and collaboration tools, e.g. Windchill, SAP, Jira, or equivalent applications.

$165,000 - $199,000 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.