Principle Mechanical Engineer

Outpost•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$210,000 - $235,000•Onsite

About The Position

Outpost is building the missing infrastructure between orbit and Earth: reusable vehicles that can bring payloads back from space and deliver them to a precise location within hours. We call it exologistics, space-to-Earth logistics at planetary scale. This is not a paper concept or a distant roadmap. Our system is in active development, with core technologies advancing toward flight readiness. The need is already here and the market has responded. We have validated demand through multiple defense and civil agreements, and a growing pipeline across government and commercial customers. Outpost is building the logistics layer that makes space economically useful in a new way: the ability to move material from orbit to Earth quickly, reliably, and affordably. Over time, that supports point-to-point logistics, 10 tons of cargo, anywhere on Earth in an hour. It also creates the foundation for a reusable reentry network and enables new categories of space activity, including in-space manufacturing, supporting AI data centers, advanced manufacturing and novel materials. We have a strong foundation, clear demand, and a technical path in front of us. Now the company is scaling rapidly. We are expanding the team, growing our operational footprint, and building the systems needed to execute at the next level. This is a chance to join a company with real traction, working on a problem that matters, at the point where execution and scale begin to define the outcome.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering.
8+ years of experience minimum (10+ preferred) in the design and analysis of complex aerospace structures and mechanisms.
Proven track record working on full space vehicles or rockets (not just subsystems). You should have experience taking a primary structure from concept through PDR/CDR to flight.
Expert-level skill in Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or similar parametric modeling software.
Deep background in structural analysis (FEA) and classical hand calculations. You must trust your hand calcs before you trust the solver.
Extensive understanding of aerospace materials (aluminum, titanium, Inconel, composites) and their behavior in extreme thermal environments.
You understand the limits of manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet metal, welding, and composite layup, and you design for them.

Nice To Haves

Active U.S. Government Security Clearance (Not required, but beneficial)
Experience with deployable space structures and mechanisms (booms, solar arrays, antennas, or aerobrakes).
Experience designing for high-heat environments or integrating with Thermal Protection Systems (TPS).
Proficiency in scripting (Python/MATLAB) for design automation or data post-processing.
Deep knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA-STD-5000 series, SMC-S-016) for structural margins and testing.

Responsibilities

Lead the mechanical design of the entire vehicle structure, including primary structure, interfaces to the deployable heatshield, secondary structures, and payload bay
Perform and sign off on detailed hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS/FEMAP/NASTRAN). You will be the final check on stiffness, buckling, and thermal expansion compatibility.
Create and approve high-quality manufacturing drawings with appropriate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (ASME Y14.5) to ensure parts fit the first time.
"Get your hands dirty" leading the assembly of your designs. Own the structural test campaign (static load, random vibration, shock, and deployment testing) to qualify hardware for flight.
Work directly with machine shops, composite vendors, and external partners to resolve fabrication conflicts and ensure on-time delivery of precision parts.
Elevate the team's standard of engineering rigor. Mentor junior engineers in design best practices, analysis methods, and First Principles thinking.

Benefits

Competitive compensation: $210– $235,000; (commensurate with experience).
Annual performance-based bonuses that reward your impact.
Meaningful equity in Outpost so you share directly in the value you help create.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your loved ones covered. We cover the base tier of medical insurance and all premiums of vision and dental.
Company-provided short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind, plus life insurance for even more security.
Paid time off, plus 9 days of paid holidays.
401(k) with company match to help you build long-term wealth.
Daily DoorDash lunch stipend, plus unlimited snacks, coffee, and tea to keep you energized.
Work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from aerospace, new space, and deep-tech industries building the future of orbital infrastructure.
Pet Friendly Office
Monthly Company Happy Hours and Events