Lead Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle Engineering
Required skills
- Mechanical Engineering
- Vehicle Engineering
- Structures Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Test Design & Execution
- Space Industry Design Principles
- Space Industry Design Standards
- Team Leadership
- Program Management
- Junior Engineers
Nice to have
- NASA Technical Standards
- Structural Dynamics Analysis
- Structural Dynamics Test Methods
- Thermal Analysis Methods
- Thermal Analysis Tools
Role summary
Astrolab is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer for its Vehicle Engineering team in Hawthorne, California. This full-time, onsite role involves designing, developing, testing, and operating planetary rovers and hardware, with cradle-to-grave accountability. The Lead Engineer will define structures design best practices, design mechanical and thermal platforms, build team efficiency tools, set priorities, and manage program progress. A key aspect of the role is mentoring and developing junior engineers. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in STEM, 4+ years of experience in a space company design role, and experience with space industry design principles, FEA, and test execution. Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree and experience with NASA standards and structural/thermal dynamics analysis.
Lead Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle Engineering
Department: Vehicle Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Hawthorne, California
Reporting To: Andrew Welter
Compensation: $157,000 - $190,000 / year
Description
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.As a Lead Structures Engineer, you and your team will design, develop, test, and operate planetary rovers and related hardware. You will be responsible for producing high-performance designs for challenging environments, with cradle-to-grave accountability. You will have the opportunity to develop and mentor other engineers while working on novel, complex mechanical systems.
What you'll do:
- Work with leadership and design counterparts to define Astrolab best practices for structures design, analysis, and test
- Design mechanical and thermal platforms at the architectural level
- Build tools and infrastructure to make your team and the company more efficient
- Set team priorities and manage progress through various program phases
- Develop and train junior mechanical engineers
What you'll bring:
Basic Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
- 4+ years of experience in a design role at a space company
- Experience with space industry design principles, finite element analysis methods, test design & execution
- Experience developing hardware to meet space industry design standards and best practices
- Experience leading a team through a design program start-to-finish
- Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers, contractors, and interns to build an effective design team
- Master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) field
- Experience with NASA technical standards for design, analysis, and test
- Experience with structural dynamics analysis and test methods
- Experience with thermal analysis methods and tools
Benefits and Perks
- Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- Equity ownership in the company
- Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Flexible PTO and parental leave
- Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks
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