Senior Mechanical Engineer – Launch Vehicle Hardware

Full-time onsite role in the San Francisco Bay Area

Industry: Aerospace / Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

We’re partnering with a space company focused on making orbital launches quick, flexible, and available from just about anywhere. They design lightweight rockets and propulsion systems that can ship in containers, set up on basic pads, and launch on short notice.

The Mechanical Engineering team handles the critical hardware that holds the rocket steady, then releases it at the perfect moment. Think release mechanisms, actuators, linkages, brackets, mounts, and structural parts built to survive extreme launch conditions.

Hiring a Senior Mechanical Engineer who loves designing and building complex moving systems from the ground up. You’ll take ideas from rough sketches through detailed CAD, analysis, prototyping, testing, and flight qualification. This is for someone who gets a kick out of hardware that works the first time because the stakes are high.

What you’ll do:

• Own the full design, analysis, and build of mechanical systems including release mechanisms, actuators, linkages, brackets, and mounts
• Create detailed CAD models and drawings ready for manufacturing
• Perform strength, stiffness, and thermal analysis to ensure survival in launch environments
• Prototype and iterate quickly, turning concepts into hardware in weeks
• Support hands-on assembly, integration, and system testing
• Lead and run test programs from basic checks to full flight qualification
• Work closely with propulsion, avionics, ground systems, and manufacturing teams for smooth integration
• Mentor junior engineers and improve design and documentation standards

What you bring:

• 5+ years in mechanical design and analysis from aerospace, robotics, automotive, or similar fields
• Strong CAD experience (SolidWorks or Creo) and familiarity with FEA tools
• Proven track record designing mechanisms and structures that get built and tested
• Comfortable prototyping and testing in the shop
• Bachelor’s in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Nice to have:

• Experience with actuators, linkages, or precision release systems
• Background with cryogenic or high-pressure interfaces
• Knowledge of ASME standards, GD&T, and design-for-manufacture best practices
• Comfort in startup or fast-paced R&D settings
• History of delivering hardware on tight timelines

Why this role:

• Full ownership from initial concept to flight-ready hardware
• Work on a mix of moving mechanisms, precision assemblies, and structural systems
• Join a small, high-impact team where every engineer’s contribution matters
• See your designs launch into space and enable responsive access to orbit
• Be part of building the future of flexible, on-demand space launch

Location: San Francisco Bay Area Full-time onsite (relocation negotiable)

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Adam Slade