Senior Mechanical Engineer – Vehicle Structures (Full-Lifecycle Architect)
- Location: Los Angeles, CA (Playa Vista area) – 100% On-site
- Compensation: $160,000 – $225,000 Base (+ Equity + Bonuses)
- Clearance: US Citizen or Green Card Holder required (ITAR regulations)
Are you tired of designing a single bracket or subsystem for a massive aerospace program? Are you ready to own the structural architecture of an entire flight vehicle?
We are partnering with a highly-funded (~$30M+), rapidly growing space logistics startup in Los Angeles. Our client is building an entirely new class of reusable, precision Earth-return vehicles designed to bring payloads back from orbit safely and reliably. They operate with a lean, elite team of under 40 engineers, meaning you will have fast build-test cycles, zero bureaucratic red tape, and real influence on flight hardware. With multiple government and commercial missions already manifested, you won’t be working on theoretical paper studies—your hardware will fly, orbit, survive hypersonic re-entry, and land.
What You’ll Accomplish
As the Structural Architect, you will not just contribute to a system; you will own it. You will tackle the rare engineering challenge of designing across the full mission cycle.
- Architect the Airframe: Own the primary load-bearing structures, payload bays, and secondary structures from blank-page concept through detailed design.
- Engineer for the Extremes: Design robust structures that can withstand aggressive launch loads, orbital vacuum, and intense hypersonic re-entry conditions.
- Lead the Analysis: Perform and sign off on high-fidelity hand calculations and advanced FEA (NASTRAN/ANSYS) to validate your designs.
- Drive Manufacturing & Integration: Create and approve flight-ready manufacturing drawings using strict GD&T (ASME Y14.5). Work hands-on with fabrication teams and external vendors to ensure perfect first-assembly fit.
- Break It to Build It Better: Lead rigorous hands-on structural testing (static load, vibration, shock, deployment) and use the data to iterate rapidly.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the technical authority on structures, integrating seamlessly with thermal (TPS) and atmospheric recovery teams.
What You Bring to the Table
We are looking for builders who have taken complete flight vehicle structures from concept through test and flight.
- Experience: 5 to 10+ years of deep mechanical/structural engineering experience, ideally within a modern space startup, launch vehicle manufacturer, or a specialized "Skunk Works" advanced program.
- Flight Heritage: Proven experience designing primary structures/airframes for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or re-entry systems that have successfully gone to space (or through advanced test/flight cycles). PDR/CDR exposure is highly valued.
- Technical Chops: Expert-level proficiency in CAD (Siemens NX or SolidWorks) and FEA tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, or FEMAP), paired with a strong "hand-calculations first" mindset.
- Manufacturing Mastery: Deep understanding of ASME Y14.5 GD&T and a track record of producing flawless manufacturing drawings.
- Ownership Mentality: You thrive in a high-autonomy environment and can independently drive a project from early trade studies to the launch pad.
(Note: While advanced degrees are welcome, we are prioritizing applied, hands-on flight hardware experience over purely academic research backgrounds.)
Why This Role?
This is a career-defining opportunity to act as the structural authority for an entire vehicle line. Our client offers:
- A highly competitive base salary tailored to your expertise ($160K - $225K+).
- Substantial early-stage equity in a company with validated demand and strong government backing.
- Comprehensive health benefits, performance bonuses, and relocation assistance for the right candidate.
- The chance to work alongside alumni from top-tier modern space and aerospace companies in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment near the beach in Playa Vista.
Ready to Build the Future of Space Logistics?
If you have the flight heritage and the structural expertise to own an entire vehicle's architecture, we want to hear from you.