Mechanical Design Engineer - Electric Propulsion

About General Galactic

General Galactic designs, builds, and flies advanced spacecraft that redefine what’s possible beyond Earth. Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar space and build the railway to Mars – expanding access to high-energy orbits and enabling the next generation of missions along the way. Based in Los Angeles, California, we’re leveraging our paradigm-shifting water-based technology to reshape the space domain for good.

Job Description

As a Mechanical Design Engineer (Electric Propulsion), you will work closely with a focused technical team to design and analyze critical electric propulsion hardware for our product suite, including Seldon and Dreadnought spacecraft vehicles, Genesis propulsion systems, and more. You will have extreme ownership over your work, move quickly, and operate with high agency. As we grow, there will be opportunities to expand your role with the company. 

‍In particular, you will own and build the components of General Galactic’s electric propulsion systems, including Hall-effect thrusters. You will own your designs from requirements definition and architecture through prototyping, qualification and flight. This is a hands-on role that requires experience in fundamentals of material science, mechanical design, plasma physics, and other disciplines.

‍Responsibilities may include: 

‍Define and own the mechanical design of electric propulsion hardware including critical thruster and cathode components, propellant management system, secondary structures, and more.

• Take your designs from concept through completion, including material. selection, finite-element analysis, and design for manufacturing (DFM).
• Generate CAD models and drawings with proficient application of GD&T.
• Build and test your designs in the lab, and perform analysis in order to iterate on designs.
• Create qualification and acceptance test plans and qualify your designs through vibration, shock, TVAC, and other testing.

‍Requirements

Successful applicants should have most of the following: 

• BS in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar degree.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design and analysis, with a preference towards prior work on aerospace applications.
• Experience with CAD and FEA software, including deep knowledge of structural and thermal analyses.
• Experience with technical drawings, including GD&T.
• Experience in design and test of pressurized components and systems.
• Demonstrated ability in principles of mechanical design, fluids, and materials science.
• Experience in a fast-paced startup environment or similar.
• Strong engineering background and first-principles approach to problem solving even with incomplete or partial information.

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‍The expected base salary range for this position is $120,000–$180,000. This range reflects our good-faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation will depend on factors such as level, relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

‍Benefits include medical/vision/dental/PTO/401k/stock options, and more!

‍Very brief statements of fit/interest in this role are encouraged, please send to [email protected]. 

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‍This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

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‍General Galactic Technologies Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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