Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer Compensation: $90K–$175K base + equity Location: Hawthorne, CA (5 days/week in office) Work Policy: On-site only Relocation: $5K–$10K assistance available Stage: Series A space technology startup | $26.5M funding | Founded 2021

Who Are We? We’re building a constellation of spacecraft designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth after dark—extending solar energy beyond sunset. Backed by leading investors and founded by a former SpaceX engineer, we’re developing novel hardware systems that operate in low-Earth orbit, with our first launch targeted for 2026.

This is ambitious, physics-first engineering. We move quickly, take ownership seriously, and expect engineers to drive meaningful change—not just execute tickets.

What’s in It for You? You’ll design and ship flight-critical hardware that will operate in space.

You’ll own spacecraft components from concept through on-orbit validation.

You’ll work on tight, fast-moving timelines where engineering judgment matters more than bureaucracy.

You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across avionics, flight software, and mission operations.

You’ll receive competitive compensation, meaningful equity, 100% employer-covered base medical/dental/vision plans, 401K access, commuter benefits, unlimited PTO (with required minimum usage), and daily healthy lunches.

What Will You Do? Design, prototype, and qualify spacecraft subcomponents and mechanical systems on aggressive timelines.

Own hardware from clean-sheet concept through manufacturing, testing, and flight validation.

Deliver flight-ready critical spacecraft components.

Perform analysis and correlate results to ensure reliability in the space environment.

Collaboratively design complex, interdependent mechanical systems across the vehicle.

Balance simplicity, scrappiness, analytical rigor, and ingenuity in every design decision.

Move quickly while maintaining engineering discipline appropriate for flight hardware.

What Will You Need? Strong CAD experience.

Demonstrated ownership of meaningful hardware projects (spacecraft experience is a plus, not a requirement).

Ability to take a component from concept through qualification and integration.

Strong understanding of mechanical fundamentals—tolerances, bolted joints, structural considerations, manufacturability.

Solid employment history and/or strong educational background.

Ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup environment.

Strongly Preferred BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering.

Experience owning spacecraft components from clean-sheet to flight.

Background in aerospace, satellite systems, defense-grade hardware, automotive performance engineering, or similar high-reliability domains.

Experience designing complex mechanical systems with tight integration constraints.

We are particularly interested in engineers who have done something exceptional—whether that’s building ambitious hardware projects independently, leading major efforts early in their careers, or taking unconventional paths and outperforming expectations.

If you want to design hardware that literally reflects sunlight from space—and help power Earth after dark—this is the role.