Chief Engineer, Defense

Astro Mechanica • San Francisco, CA

8d • $220,000 - $300,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead the technical development of applications of our aircraft in direct support of the military. This is a senior leadership role responsible for the integrity, performance, and successful delivery of the aircraft across all engineering disciplines. The Chief Engineer will serve as the top technical authority on this aircraft, balancing rigorous engineering standards with the schedule and budget realities of a fast-moving aerospace development effort.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in aircraft design and development, with significant experience in flight vehicles
• Prior experience supporting defense or military aerospace programs, including familiarity with defense acquisition processes
• Demonstrated experience owning technical, schedule, and cost outcomes on a complex aerospace program
• Deep working knowledge of aircraft systems integration (propulsion, structures, aerodynamics, avionics)
• Strong track record of engaging with government customers, prime contractors, or defense agencies
• U.S. citizenship required; Secret Clearance required, Top Secret desired
• Experience with modern tactical mission systems integrations and their architectures
• Familiarity with MIL-STD and DoD airworthiness certification processes
• Experience leading engineering teams through early-stage (pre-production/prototype) development

Responsibilities

• Drive aircraft development across all subsystems — propulsion, aerostructures, avionics, flight controls, thermal management, and systems integration — to achieve performance, safety, and mission objectives
• Communicate clearly and proactively with internal teams and external stakeholders (customers, defense agencies, suppliers, and regulatory bodies) on technical developments, design challenges, risk mitigation, and path forward
• Serve as the final engineering authority on design decisions, ensuring configuration control and technical baseline integrity across the program
• Translate defense customer and mission requirements into engineering specifications, ensuring traceability from requirements through design, test, and verification
• Identify, track, and mitigate technical risks; lead root-cause investigations and corrective action for critical design or test issues
• Align engineering, manufacturing, quality, flight test, and program management teams around a unified technical plan
• Mentor and grow a high-performing engineering organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence and accountability
• Guide analysis, ground test, and flight test campaigns to validate performance and support certification/airworthiness milestones

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan
• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time
• Flexible work environment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior