Mechanical Engineer (Mid-Sr)

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

Description

The avionics system is the backbone of highly reusable, operable, and reliable space systems. As a Mechanical Engineer at an early-stage start-up you will be responsible for developing mechanical solutions for component packaging and launch vehicle integration of flight avionics hardware. You will work closely with the avionics development, structures, and production teams to design and implement those solutions, and continuously iterate to improve your designs. You will seek out state-of-the-art solutions to difficult problems and you will assist in the definition of company standards for avionics development. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

Responsibilities

• Design, manufacture, and test packaging for flight avionics, electronics, and electro-mechanical actuators
• Design, manufacture, analyze, and integrate launch vehicle harness routing and secondary structure, ensure these systems are structurally capable of surviving vehicle load cases. Create CAD models and drawings
• Perform thermal, structural, and tolerance analysis for electro-mechanical assemblies using both hand calculations and FEA
• Failure analysis of components as it relates to thermal, loads, vibration and shock
• Interface with machine shops and production teams to integrate design for manufacturing best practices and produce hardware needed for qualification and flight
• Own the hardware delivery timeline and success through inception, design, assembly, test, and integration
• Lead design reviews both internally and externally
• Drive continuous improvement efforts to increase throughput and reduce cost to meet the launch target

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience)
• 3+ years of professional experience in mechanical or electromechanical design and analysis (relevant internship and significant student-project experience may count toward this requirement)
• Proficiency with parametric 3D CAD and 2D drawing creation
• Demonstrated experience taking hardware from concept through design, analysis, manufacturing, and test
• Working knowledge of structural and thermal analysis fundamentals using hand calculations and/or FEA
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Strong understanding of machining, sheet metal fabrication, and additive manufacturing

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with NX (or comparable CAD) and Ansys (or comparable FEA)
• Structural, modal, and tolerance-stack analysis of electromechanical assemblies
• Ability to perform thermal analysis for avionics and electronics components
• Designing electronics and component packaging for extreme environments (thermal, vibration, shock, vacuum)
• Harness routing and secondary structure design
• Collaboration with PCB designers; exposure to PCB layout and packaging constraints
• Exposure to low-volume / high-mix production design
• Experience with vibration, shock, thermal, and fatigue testing of electromechanical assemblies
• Familiarity with developing and executing qualification and acceptance test campaigns
• Self-motivated and highly organized, with excellent written and verbal communication and rigorous attention to detail

Benefits

• Equity - We are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees. 
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Company-paid life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) plan with employer match 
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off  
• Holidays - 10 days (including an end-of-year closure) 
• Paid Family/Parental Leave  
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location) 
• Dog friendly offices! 

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 2 Range: $109,725 - $148,470
• Level 3 Range: $129,150 - $193,620
• Level 4 Range: $151,305 - $252,105

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. 

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Equal Opportunity 

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status.  It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII.   It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. 

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.  Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations.  Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here. 

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires. 

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.