Nyx Crew Vehicle Design Principal

About the role

The Exploration Company is developing a modular space orbital vehicle named Nyx. This vehicle is designed for crewed spaceflight applications and will be capable of carrying cargo and potentially humans in the future. We are seeking an experienced Vehicle Design Principal to lead the development of next-generation space vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and development of detailed CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings of the vehicle, primary and secondary vehicle structural elements, and mechanical systems.
• Lead the development of the overall system layout, including component accommodation and interface definition, applying a top-down design approach and managing complex, large assemblies.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, human-rating requirements and quality processes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Establish vehicle design, layout, structural elements, and drive key design decisions.
• Conduct trade studies, mechanical simulation, and analytical assessments to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
• Review and perform preliminary mechanical analysis including first order sizing and specification of structures, and structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Provide models and necessary information for structural static & dynamic, thermal, and other system-level analyses.
• Own mechanical technical requirements and contribute to long-term strategy and innovation roadmaps.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee development activities to achieve technical, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Lead development and qualification including verification, validation, certification, and flight-readiness activities.
• Manage Product Lifecycle Management workflows, Bill of Materials configurations, and Interface Control Documents.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks, resolve anomalies, and deliver qualified flight hardware aligned with program milestones.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary mechanical team.
• Provide technical mentorship to engineers.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead technical interactions with suppliers, development partners, and external stakeholders, including component selection, procurement, oversight, and acceptance activities.
• Collaborate closely with subsystems, MAIT, and program teams to ensure successful system integration.
• Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations while ensuring alignment between mechanical activities and broader vehicle development objectives.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Design, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Technology, or similar related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience. Relevant advanced degrees will be considered in lieu of equivalent experience.
• A system mindset with a proven capability of understanding and managing complex systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and testing space systems, vehicles, or component/subsystems including direct experience in one or more of the following areas of development: structure design and analysis, manufacturing, integration and test.
• Experience designing structural components.
• Experience with CAD and lifecycle management tools, incorporating plumbing and/or electrical harness routing in 3D and finite element analysis software.
• Understanding of environmental testing, such as vibration, shock, acoustic, and/or thermal vacuum (TVAC).
• Experience working with external customers such as commercial companies and government agencies (NASA, AFRL, DARPA, etc.).

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder).

Benefits

Due to federal regulations (e.g., ITAR/EAR), applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (e.g., current Green Card holders).

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Full-time position.

Location

Houston, TX.

What we would love to see from you

We're looking for someone who is:

• Agile - making decisions fast while keeping our goals and systems in mind.
• Open and collaborative - being transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them.
• Fun - enjoying the opportunity to democratize space.

Why you should join us!

We believe in:

• Agility - making decisions fast while keeping our goals and systems in mind.
• Collaboration - being transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them.
• Fun - enjoying the opportunity to democratize space.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.