Sr. Mechanical/Structural Engineer

Stratolaunch accelerates the development of next-generation aerospace and defense technologies through reusable hypersonic flight testing. Our autonomous, air-launched Talon-A vehicles provide access to operationally realistic flight environments at speeds exceeding Mach 5, delivering critical data that helps customers validate system performance and advance technologies toward deployment. Our team brings together expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and flight operations to solve complex challenges and advance capabilities essential to national security.

To help achieve these efforts, Stratolaunch is seeking a Sr. Mechanical/Structural Engineer to support the development of an air-launched hypersonic flight vehicle development program. This position will include conceptualizing components, sizing and analyzing components, generating CAD model parts and assemblies, creating margin reports, detailed design, and supporting the manufacturing effort. In addition, this position will support the Talon-A structures lead with team guidance and mentorship.  You are responsible for contributing to the vehicle’s structural technical performance, including meeting design and mission requirements, resolving technical challenges, and implementing technology upgrades that improve the competitive basis of the Talon-A hypersonic vehicle architecture. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Work hand in hand with the program responsible engineers, Payload Lead, and Talon-A Chief Engineer.
• Lead an integrated product team (IPT) of mechanical engineers, structural engineers, structural analysts, dynamics analysts, and manufacturing engineers.
• Support structural development of the hypersonic vehicle system improvements and integration of payloads, including trade studies and structural layout.
• Be responsible for making technical decisions for the structures subsystem.
• Lead the successful execution of structural design reviews to advance the program vehicles through manufacturing and flight test.
• Lead a structural systems engineering approach, which may include creating and dispositioning structural requirements, managing mass properties, guiding the configuration management of models, reviewing and approving documents, reports, and analyses, setting engineering and design best practices and standards for the structures team, waiving or approving ground testing based on structural technical risk assessments, etc.
• Communicate regularly and comprehensively with the program Chief Engineer.
• Contribute to the integration of complex aerospace systems.
• Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity, and fulfillment of commitments.

Qualifications & Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical or aerostructures design engineering experience.
• Experience with structures design and manufacturing.
• Technical leadership experience.
• Experience with risk management.
• Experience working in small engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities.
• Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance.

Required Computer Skills

• MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• 3D CAD experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with configuration management systems such as Jira, Git, Jama, etc.
• Experience with the rapid development of prototype or experimental flight vehicles.
• Experience with hypersonic and/or supersonic vehicle development, including a full life cycle of the program.
• Experience with static structural testing.
• Active US security clearance.

Preferred Computer Skills

• Experience with NX.
• Experience with a PLM tool such as Teamcenter.

Education and Experience

• Sr. Level ($113,000-$144,450): Bachelor’s degree or higher from accredited institution and 5-10 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

• Position on-site based in Mojave, CA
• Travel, as needed, to support the department. Travel estimated to be <5%
• 9/80 schedule

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s) : 

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
• 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
• Tuition reimbursement

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles.  The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.  

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You’re within a half day’s drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers. 

Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices. Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state’s best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce. Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke’s in Lancaster. Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States.

Stratolaunch is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at our company. We encourage people from all walks of life to apply, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our management team does not tolerate discrimination or harassment at any point during our employees’ and applicants’ time with us, especially with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.  For purposes of transparency, U.S. Citizenship may be required for some positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law  :

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf