Senior Mechanical Engineer

Xona Space Systems•Burlingame, CA

9d•$173,000 - $218,000

About The Position

Xona is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to own spacecraft subsystems and critical equipment from early requirements and trade studies through design, build, qualification, and production support. Projects may include primary structure, deployable mechanisms, launch vehicle interfaces, solar arrays, machined and sheet metal brackets, electronics enclosures, precision mounts, and high-criticality mechanical ground support equipment (GSE). Assignments will evolve with spacecraft and team needs. This is a hands-on individual contributor role with substantial autonomy, technical leadership, and mentoring responsibilities. The engineer will make sound decisions with incomplete information, help resolve challenging mechanical issues, and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and integration teams. For U.S. roles, applicants must meet applicable U.S. Government space technology export-control eligibility requirements. U.K. roles require BPSS checks and eligibility to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). Canadian roles require reliability-status security clearance and security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR. Xona is committed to an inclusive workplace and considers qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering field.
7+ years of mechanical hardware development experience, with demonstrated responsibility for complex assemblies or subsystems in aerospace or another high-reliability field.
Record of independently taking hardware from requirements and concept through detailed design, build, and qualification or equivalent verification.
Strong mechanical fundamentals, including load paths, joints and fasteners, materials, thermal and optical properties, manufacturing processes, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
Proficiency in 3D CAD and drawing release using SolidWorks or a comparable platform, with disciplined PDM and configuration management practices.
Ability to perform and critically assess structural calculations and FEA, understand modeling assumptions, and reconcile analysis with physical test results.
Hands-on experience assembling, inspecting, troubleshooting, and testing hardware, including resolving issues during integration or production.
Demonstrated judgment in technical tradeoffs, clear communication across disciplines, and experience guiding design reviews or mentoring other engineers.

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 leading subsystem architecture, managing complex supplier deliverables, or coordinating technical interfaces with launch providers or deployer vendors.

Responsibilities

Own complex mechanical subsystems from concept through qualification and production, establishing requirements, interfaces, verification plans, and realistic delivery schedules.
Lead mechanical trade studies and contribute to spacecraft layouts and architecture, balancing load paths, packaging, thermal interfaces, reliability, cost, manufacturability, and integration needs.
Design flight hardware and critical GSE; release CAD, drawings, bills of materials, and interface definitions with clear GD&T, tolerance analysis, and configuration control.
Use first-principles calculations and structural FEA to substantiate designs, partnering with structural and thermal specialists to define loads, boundary conditions, margins, and verification needs.
Build prototypes, work directly with hardware, and develop fixtures and functional tests to retire risks.
Own qualification of assigned hardware and occasionally support spacecraft vibration and TVAC campaigns.
Lead resolution of build, integration, test, and production anomalies by containing issues, investigating root causes, implementing corrective actions, and verifying fixes.
Own supplier technical execution, including requirements, design reviews, procurement coordination, inspection criteria, and resolution of manufacturing issues.
Coordinate across mechanical, thermal, electrical, payload, GNC, manufacturing, and integration and test teams; identify risks early, communicate tradeoffs, and drive issues to closure.
Review designs, mentor engineers, and improve engineering practices while remaining directly responsible for hardware delivery.