Mechanical Engineer - General Applications

Astra•Alameda, CA

129d•$75,819 - $200,000

About The Position

Mechanical Engineers at Astra design, analyze, build, and qualify hardware end-to-end — from clean-sheet concept through flight. Depending on your team and level, you may work on spacecraft propulsion components, launch vehicle structures, ground support equipment, fluid systems, or test infrastructure. Across all of these, the expectation is the same: be a hands-on contributor who takes accountability for the full lifecycle of what you build. You will work on an interdisciplinary team alongside systems, propulsion, electrical, controls, and software engineers to bring complex hardware to life. You'll operate in a fast-paced, self-driven environment where the pace of iteration is rapid and the stakes are real.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline
Proficiency in 3D CAD (Siemens NX strongly preferred; SolidWorks or CATIA considered)
Working knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5
Familiarity with common structural and fluid components and instrumentation
Strong communication skills - written and verbal - and the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team
Comfortable getting hands dirty: working directly with hardware, running tests, and troubleshooting on the floor
Foundational proficiency in CAD and GD&T; coursework or project experience in FEA, fluid mechanics, and structural analysis (for Engineer I)
Hands-on experience through internships, capstone projects, lab work, or personal hardware builds (for Engineer I)
Eager to learn, strong attention to detail, and comfortable asking questions and taking direction (for Engineer I)
Works under the guidance of senior engineers; begins to own discrete sub-components or test tasks (for Engineer I)
Demonstrated professional experience taking hardware from design to test (for Engineer II)
Can own a component or subsystem with limited supervision (for Engineer II)
Beginning to develop proficiency in analysis tools (FEA, CFD, or thermal simulation) (for Engineer II)
Proactively identifies technical risks and surfaces them early (for Engineer II)
Deep expertise in at least one domain (fluid systems, structures, mechanisms, thermal, test) (for Senior Engineer)
Proven track record of owning hardware from concept through production and/or flight (for Senior Engineer)
Expert-level CAD and drawing generation; strong FEA fundamentals (for Senior Engineer)
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes and DFM/DFA practices (for Senior Engineer)
Leads design reviews, provides technical guidance to junior engineers, and manages cross-team interfaces (for Senior Engineer)
Recognized technical leader; sets direction for complex, multi-disciplinary programs (for Staff Engineer)
Owns system-level architecture and leads hardware from concept through operational deployment (for Staff Engineer)
Drives design-for-manufacturability and scalability from prototype to production (for Staff Engineer)
Mentors a team of engineers and shapes team standards, processes, and analytical tools (for Staff Engineer)
Influences technical and strategic decisions at the program level; communicates effectively with leadership and customers (for Staff Engineer)
Experience managing schedule, cost, and deliverables for a module or product line (for Staff Engineer)
Compliance with U.S. Government space technology trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies.
Applicant's status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency.

Nice To Haves

Experience with structural FEA (NASTRAN) and/or thermal/CFD tools (Thermal Desktop, Star-CCM+)
Background in high-pressure or cryogenic fluid systems (LOX, RP-1, or similar propellants)
Experience with PLM tools (Teamcenter or similar)
Familiarity with ASME, NASA, MIL-STD, or ECSS standards and how to apply them
Experience in aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability hardware environments
Experience with high-pressure (6,000+ psi), cryogenic, or flight-critical systems is a strong plus (for Senior Engineer)

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and qualify rocket components/hardware — including structural assemblies, fluid system components (manifolds, valves, tanks, tubing, quick-disconnects), mechanisms, and ground support equipment/structures.
Generate 3D models, fully dimensioned drawings, and interface control documents per ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards using Siemens NX (or equivalent CAD)
Perform structural, thermal, and tolerance analyses using FEA tools (NASTRAN/NX Simcenter, Ansys) and hand calculations to validate design robustness
Support prototype builds, qualification campaigns, and acceptance testing; work directly with technicians to debug and iterate hardware
Develop and execute test plans for component- and system-level qualification; interpret results and drive design changes
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders through design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR), and maintain complete engineering documentation (Tech Data Packages, compliance plans, FMEAs)
Identify and apply the right manufacturing process - machining, welding, brazing, forming, heat treating - for each design
Contribute to continuous improvement of team processes, tooling, and analytical capabilities