Manager, Mechanical Engineering

About the role

We are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you.

To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and scale a team of mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities to support business objectives and program needs.
• Set clear performance expectations; provide coaching, feedback, and formal performance evaluations.
• Drive employee engagement, retention, and career development initiatives.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit top engineering talent.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance team environment.
• Serve as the mechanical engineering authority across multiple programs, ensuring technical excellence and consistency.
• Lead mechanical architecture development, trade studies, and key design decisions aligned with product roadmaps.
• Oversee system-level requirements definition, validation, and interface management.
• Guide teams through the full development lifecycle: concept, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, testing, and qualification.
• Provide technical oversight for high-risk or high-visibility programs, ensuring milestone success.
• Lead and participate in internal and external design reviews, including presentations to customers and executive leadership.
• Define, implement, and continuously improve mechanical engineering processes, including design standards, analysis methodologies, and verification/validation frameworks.
• Establish and maintain technical documentation standards across programs.
• Ensure effective allocation and prioritization of engineering resources.
• Drive accountability for schedule, cost, quality, and technical performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management teams.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and partners to support program execution.
• Contribute to product roadmap development through mechanical technology strategy and innovation.
• Support proposal efforts, including technical solutioning, resource planning, and cost estimation.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Help shape long-term strategy for mechanical engineering capabilities and capacity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 7–9 years of experience in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace or space systems with a minimum of 1–3 years of engineering management experience.
• Deep expertise in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace/space applications.
• Experience with electronics packaging at PCBA and system levels.
• Strong understanding of structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis.
• Knowledge of environmental testing and qualification standards for space hardware.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes (e.g., CNC machining, composites, additive manufacturing).
• Understanding of system integration, AI&T, and launch constraints.
• Proven ability to lead technical trade studies and make architecture-level decisions.
• Experience developing and implementing engineering processes and best practices.
• Proficiency with CAD and PDM tools (e.g., SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM or equivalent).
• Experience with simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar FEA tools).
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts.

Pay

$158,000 – $189,000 a year

Benefits

• Company stock options.
• Health, dental, vision, HSA, and FSA benefits.
• Life, disability, and retirement plans.