Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
About The Position
Astro Mechanica is hiring a principal-level mechanical engineer to lead the mechanical design of major systems for Duality™, its jet engine designed for efficiency from takeoff through supersonic flight. The engineer will own mechanical architecture and guide systems from early prototypes through flight qualification, vehicle integration, and aircraft flight. This role combines technical direction and hands-on engineering, with an emphasis on setting a test-like-you-fly standard. The successful candidate will lead design decisions and trade studies, establish design and analysis practices, and serve as a technical authority for mechanical design. They will collaborate across propulsion, aircraft, test, and manufacturing teams; mentor engineers; and lead investigations and corrective actions when hardware fails. Astro Mechanica describes its structure as flat and its culture as pragmatic, fast-moving, and engineering-focused. The position is based in an in-office work environment. Astro Mechanica considers working in the office five days a week essential to the role.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of hands-on mechanical design experience, including technical leadership of complex hardware programs from concept through build and test.
- A track record of owning the architecture of a major system or product, rather than only individual components.
- Deep expertise in a major CAD package.
- Expert knowledge of manufacturing processes, including machining, additive manufacturing, and sheet metal, as well as precision measurement and GD&T.
- Strong command of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, with judgment about when analysis is sufficient and when to test.
- Experience mentoring engineers and raising a team's technical standards.
- Ability to communicate complex technical tradeoffs clearly to engineers, leadership, and external stakeholders.
- Comfort making decisions under uncertainty in a fast-moving environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience designing propulsion systems such as gas turbines, rocket engines, or other turbomachinery.
- Experience with high-temperature, high-speed rotating, or pressurized hardware.
- Flight hardware design, qualification, or certification experience.
- Familiarity with data acquisition, instrumentation, and test program design.
- Exposure to electromechanical systems or power electronics integration.
- Experience at an early-stage hardware company during rapid growth.
- Siemens NX experience is preferred; experience with CATIA, Creo, or SolidWorks is also supported.
Responsibilities
- Own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems, defining requirements, interfaces, and design approach.
- Lead trade studies that shape engine configuration and make defensible decisions when data is incomplete.
- Set design standards, analysis practices, and review rigor across the mechanical design team.
- Lead design reviews and serve as the technical authority on mechanical design questions.
- Mentor senior- and mid-level engineers through design reviews, hands-on guidance, and day-to-day collaboration.
- Work across propulsion, aircraft, test, and manufacturing teams to resolve system-level tradeoffs.
- Participate hands-on in CAD, analysis, prototype builds, and testing as needed.
- Lead root-cause investigations into hardware failures and drive corrective actions to closure.
- Identify technical risks early and develop plans to retire them.
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
- 401(k) program.
- Transparent stock option plan.
- Self-managed, flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time.
- Flexible work environment.
- Company-funded weekly team lunches and Astro Mechanica swag.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
No Education Listed
