Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

CesiumAstro•El Segundo, CA

About The Position

CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to apply advanced mechanical engineering principles to develop and improve mechanical systems, structures, mechanisms, and hardware for complex products and platforms. The role addresses highly complex technical challenges, advances mechanical engineering methodologies, and serves as a primary technical resource across multiple programs to improve product performance, manufacturability, reliability, quality, and mission success. Working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and operations teams, the engineer supports mechanical engineering throughout the product development lifecycle. The position leads complex analyses, design reviews, verification and testing activities, investigations, and improvement initiatives, while mentoring engineers and advancing engineering practices across multiple programs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, civil engineering, industrial design, engineering technology, or a related technical field with 12–15 years of related experience; or a master's degree with 8–12 years; or a PhD with 5–8 years of related experience in mechanical engineering, structural analysis, stress analysis, CAD, product design, or a related engineering discipline.
Substantial knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, machine design, structural analysis, mechanical systems, and product development methodologies.
Extensive experience designing mechanical components, assemblies, structures, mechanisms, and manufacturing solutions across multiple engineering programs.
Comprehensive understanding of engineering analysis, structural analysis, thermal analysis, tolerance analysis, GD&T, manufacturing processes, product verification, and system integration.
Ability to develop innovative solutions to highly complex mechanical engineering challenges and advance technical capabilities across multiple engineering efforts.
Sound judgment in guiding technical decisions, mentoring engineers, and advancing mechanical engineering methodologies.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
Proficiency with mechanical design, CAD, simulation, and engineering analysis tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, ANSYS, MATLAB, or equivalent applications.
Experience with engineering documentation, PLM, ERP, and collaboration tools such as Windchill, SAP, Jira, or equivalent applications.
Must meet U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Responsibilities

Develop mechanical systems, structures, mechanisms, assemblies, and engineering solutions across products and manufacturing programs.
Evaluate structural performance, thermal behavior, tolerance requirements, manufacturability, and mechanical interfaces.
Lead complex engineering analyses, structural evaluations, thermal assessments, design trade studies, and technical reviews.
Lead mechanical verification, qualification, validation, and testing activities.
Evaluate engineering data, test results, inspection findings, manufacturing information, and product performance; develop solutions to improve system performance and reliability.
Guide root cause investigations, engineering changes, corrective actions, and design improvements.
Serve as a primary technical resource for mechanical engineering across significant engineering and manufacturing initiatives.
Provide mechanical engineering guidance during design reviews, engineering investigations, manufacturing reviews, supplier evaluations, and complex technical problem resolution.
Mentor engineers and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Advance mechanical engineering methodologies, design practices, engineering standards, verification approaches, and analytical techniques across multiple programs.
Evaluate engineering methods, design practices, manufacturing processes, and emerging technologies to identify improvement opportunities.
Lead initiatives to enhance product performance, manufacturability, reliability, quality, design efficiency, and engineering effectiveness.