Chief Engineer

Voyager Technologies, Inc. • Long Beach, CA

58d • $180,000 - $240,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Engineer for Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL) systems is an autonomous technical leader responsible for the end-to-end mission success of our VTVL programs by managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing complex systems engineering processes, and aligning technical execution with budgetary and schedule requirements. The position reports to the Chief Engineer of Lunar Systems and is part of the Office of Chief Engineering based in Pittsburgh, PA. This role is onsite and can be located either in Mojave, CA, or Long Beach, CA.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or other relevant engineering discipline with 15 years of engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience as a technical lead of a major component, subsystem or vehicle for a complex spacecraft, launch vehicle, aircraft, or similarly integrated safety-critical system.
• Experience adjudicating complex technical trade-offs and leading or participating in Engineering Review Boards.
• Deep understanding of how to manage system architecture products, requirements, and technical risk.
• Familiar with understanding of customer needs, CONOPS, and requirements and translating into engineering architecture and detailed design.
• Ability to lift, move or carry items or equipment up to 50 pounds

Nice To Haves

• Has served as the primary technical spokesperson for a program or project, including responsibility for system architecture, requirements, interfaces, design trades, technical risk, verification, and resolution of cross-subsystem technical issues.
• Direct experience taking flight hardware through development, integration, test, and flight or operational deployment, with demonstrated involvement in major design reviews, test readiness, anomaly resolution, and flight/readiness decisions.
• Experience leading liquid propulsion system projects.
• Current U.S. Security Clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Responsibilities

• Own the vehicle's technical architecture, design philosophy, requirements, interfaces, margins, and performance allocations, ensuring subsystems integrate into a safe, mission-capable vehicle
• Serve as the program's senior technical authority, providing independent judgment on major design decisions, waivers, risks, and readiness, and resolving cross-functional disagreements on engineering merit
• Lead vehicle-level design and development from concept through qualification, integrated/flight test, and operational deployment
• Own vehicle performance and technical margins (mass, CG, propellant, delta-V, thrust-to-weight, structural/thermal margins, power, comms, control authority), driving corrective action as needed
• Own technical risk identification and retirement, driving early testing of high-risk technologies and failure modes
• Define the development, qualification, and flight-test approach, ensuring the test program retires risk rather than just demonstrating nominal performance
• Works with the Chief Engineer of Lunar Systems to establish design standards and engineering rigor (analysis methods, margins, safety factors, configuration control, documentation) and tailor as needed to the program's risk posture
• Partner with manufacturing, test, and operations to ensure the design is manufacturable, testable, and operable, incorporating field experience into design decisions

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families, with a significant portion of premiums covered by the company and many benefits paid at 100% for employees
• Flexible, affordable gym memberships with 12,700+ options nationwide
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 50% company match on contributions up to 8%
• Company wellness programs that support physical and mental well-being
• Additional voluntary benefits and employee support resources
• The opportunity to work alongside a highly talented team in an innovative, mission-driven environment

What This Job Offers

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