Mechanical Engineer
About the role
Who Are We? We are building a constellation of space-based reflectors designed to beam sunlight back to Earth after sunset. The idea is simple but ambitious: extend solar energy generation into the night by reflecting sunlight from orbit onto solar farms. Our team is developing spacecraft capable of capturing and redirecting sunlight to Earth, unlocking a new frontier in renewable energy. With strong backing from top investors and a leadership team with deep aerospace experience, we are preparing to launch our first spacecraft in 2026. What’s in It for You? Work on a mission-driven aerospace project aimed at transforming how solar energy can be used globally. Join a small, high-caliber engineering team where individual contributions have immediate impact. Take ownership of spacecraft hardware from concept through launch and on-orbit operation. Build real flight hardware in a fast-moving startup environment. Competitive salary with meaningful equity in a venture-backed space technology company. What Will You Do? Design, prototype, and deliver critical spacecraft mechanical components and mechanisms. Take hardware from conceptual design through qualification testing and flight validation. Integrate spacecraft subsystems and collaborate across engineering disciplines to ensure system reliability. Perform analysis and testing to validate hardware performance in the space environment. Deliver flight-ready hardware that balances simplicity, ingenuity, and engineering rigor. Work on tight timelines to support spacecraft development and launch milestones. What Will You Need? Strong experience designing mechanical components and systems for high-performance environments. Demonstrated ownership of complex hardware components or subsystems from concept through deployment. Advanced CAD experience for mechanical design and system integration. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tolerances, and mechanical system design. Ability to work autonomously and collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams. Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Strongly Preferred: Experience owning spacecraft components from clean-sheet design through flight. Background in aerospace, satellite systems, automotive hardware, robotics, or similar high-reliability engineering environments. Experience at high-performance engineering organizations such as aerospace startups, advanced hardware companies, or top-tier technology organizations. Candidates who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments, unconventional projects, or standout achievements beyond traditional engineering career paths. Additional Notes: Candidates should demonstrate strong project ownership and experience delivering technically complex hardware systems. Candidates with consulting-heavy backgrounds, frequent job changes, or limited ownership of engineering projects are unlikely to be considered. This role requires working full-time on-site in Hawthorne, CA.
What we are looking for
- Owned spacecraft components from clean-sheet to spaceflight
- Strong CAD experience
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Industrial Engineering
- Experience doing something exceptional, bold, or just plain unexpected