Principal Mechanical Engineer - Mechanical Team Lead
About The Position
Are you passionate about shaping the future of humanity's presence in space? Lunar Outpost, a trailblazer in space robotics, invites you to join our team! Lunar Outpost is dedicated to creating a sustainable presence in space, while also driving positive impacts here on Earth. We are seeking a talented, experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to help define the future of lunar surface mobility in a fast-paced startup environment. Take the #NextLeap with Lunar Outpost and work on the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which will carry NASA astronauts farther than they've ever been before on the lunar surface!
Requirements
- 15+ years of relevant mechanical engineering experience
- Bachelor's or Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field
- Extensive proven technical leadership at an organizational scale, influencing multiple teams, programs, and internal organizations
- Strong organizational, management, and hands-on technical skills
- Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as Bild, JIRA, or equivalents
- Exceptional written and oral communication abilities
- Extensive experience presenting and reviewing standard aerospace reviews – MCR, PDR, CDR, etc.
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and driven to meet critical deadlines
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated track record of strategic planning
- Prior leadership experience in an aerospace startup environment
- Demonstrated track record of technical public speaking and presentation at conferences, working groups, etc.
- Relevant experience with NASA and Government customers, deliverables, reviews, and standards
Responsibilities
- Lead and direct the mechanical engineering team working on multiple concurrent projects, from conception through completion, continually optimizing resource allocations to meet programmatic objectives, quality standards, and deadlines
- Represent the mechanical discipline in executive-level reviews, strategic meetings, and organizational decisions, providing strategic input to senior leadership and executives on technical risks, opportunities, investments, and resource allocation from a mechanical engineering perspective
- Interface with executives to set the vision and direction for the mechanical engineering team, demonstrating understanding of Lunar Outpost’s priorities and philosophy
- Function as a top-level technical authority across multiple programs, guiding consistency and direction for mechanical engineering with company-wide impact
- Represent the company in customer-facing reviews, industry technical committees, and technical conferences, influencing the broader aerospace community
- Present and mature mechanical engineering projects within aerospace review structures (SRR, PDR, CDR)
- Set and enforce guidance on best practices and design philosophies within the mechanical engineering team, and champion continuous improvement
- Ensure all mechanical designs comply with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements; produce, review, and approve technical documentation
- Collaborate with leaders across disciplines to ensure the multi-faceted needs of all stakeholders are met
- Oversee rapid prototyping efforts to validate concepts quickly and cost-effectively
- Develop and lead manufacturing plans for parts using a range of processes, including CNC milling, 3D printing, lathe work, sheet metal bending, and water-jetting/laser-cutting
- Provide mentorship, coaching, and guidance to less-experienced team members, fostering skills development, leadership growth, and a culture of excellence
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Number of Employees
101-250 employees
