Mechanical Engineer

Xona Space Systems • Burlingame, CA

9d • $132,000 - $178,000

About The Position

Xona is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to take ownership of hardware from design through build and test. The role delivers spacecraft components, assemblies, and ground equipment in collaboration with experienced engineers, with responsibility growing over time. Projects may include primary structure, deployable mechanisms, launch vehicle interfaces, machined and sheet metal brackets, solar arrays, electronics enclosures, precision mounts, and high-criticality mechanical ground support equipment (GSE). Assignments evolve with spacecraft and team needs.

The Mechanical Engineer owns defined projects and assemblies, makes day-to-day engineering decisions, and seeks broader review when risks or interfaces require it. The role involves carrying hardware through requirements, design, procurement, build, verification, and production support; creating controlled engineering documentation; evaluating and substantiating designs; prototyping and testing; supporting integration and qualification; resolving hardware issues; and coordinating with suppliers, technicians, and cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• 3+ years of professional mechanical hardware development experience, with demonstrated ownership of components or assemblies.
• Experience carrying hardware through detailed design, fabrication, assembly, and physical testing; ability to explain personal engineering decisions and results.
• Solid mechanical fundamentals, including load paths, joints and fasteners, materials, thermal and optical properties, machining, sheet metal fabrication, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD and engineering drawings using SolidWorks or a comparable platform, with experience following controlled release and revision processes.
• Ability to substantiate designs with engineering calculations and working knowledge of structural FEA, including loads, constraints, and basic checks of model results.
• Hands-on experience using tools, assembling hardware, developing test setups, and troubleshooting discrepancies between designs and actual hardware.
• Ability to manage defined projects independently, communicate technical issues clearly, collaborate across disciplines, and incorporate design feedback.
• For U.S. roles, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), to comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations.
• For U.K. roles, the role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).
• For Canada roles, successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with spacecraft hardware, launch environments, or other high-reliability hardware with demanding structural and environmental requirements.
• Experience with deployment or separation mechanisms, precision assemblies, electronics packaging, or spacecraft handling and lifting equipment.
• Experience supporting vibration, shock, or thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing and using test results to improve hardware.
• Experience transitioning designs into repeatable production, resolving supplier issues, or improving assembly and inspection processes.
• Experience owning a small subsystem, working in a cleanroom, or supporting qualification and acceptance testing of flight hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned components and assemblies from requirements through design, procurement, build, verification, and production support, with senior guidance on complex architecture and high-risk decisions.
• Design flight hardware and mechanical GSE; create and release CAD, drawings, bills of materials, and interface definitions with appropriate GD&T, tolerance analysis, and configuration control.
• Evaluate design options for strength, stiffness, packaging, manufacturability, assembly, cost, and schedule; document recommendations and participate in design reviews.
• Use first-principles calculations and structural FEA appropriate to the hardware, working with senior engineers and analysis specialists to confirm loads, assumptions, margins, and thermal interfaces.
• Build and evaluate prototypes, develop fixtures and functional test setups, and use measurements and test results to improve designs.
• Support assembly, integration, and qualification of assigned hardware, including occasional vibration and thermal vacuum (TVAC) test support, hardware preparation, and review of findings.
• Investigate manufacturing, integration, and test anomalies; develop and verify corrective actions with the team, update documentation, and support production when issues arise.
• Work directly with suppliers and technicians to answer technical questions, review manufacturability and inspection needs, and resolve issues affecting hardware delivery.
• Coordinate interfaces across mechanical, thermal, electrical, payload, and integration and test teams; track commitments, communicate risks early, and ask for support before issues affect delivery.

What This Job Offers

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