Full-Time

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Mechanical

Updated on 9/9/2026

Stratolaunch

Stratolaunch

201-500 employees

Designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles.

Compensation Overview

$152.2k - $204.6k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Mojave, CA, USA

In Person

Travel is estimated at less than 5%.

US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's

Category
Manufacturing & Process Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
JIRA
SolidWorks

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Requirements
  • Knowledge of and experience with one or more of mechanical engineering, systems, experimental aircraft, and launch vehicle integration.
  • Experience with aerospace production documentation, including drawings and work orders.
  • Experience with product data management systems and engineering control and revision control release processes.
  • Experience integrating launch vehicle or aircraft payload mechanical systems and control systems.
  • Experience creating detailed shop work instructions.
  • Familiarity with common aerospace hardware such as connectors, relays, wire types, and structures.
  • Direct hands-on experience with aircraft electrical systems, payload installation, and industry best practices.
  • Ability to facilitate and communicate technical challenges and guidance to varied audiences to gain support or resolve concerns.
  • Ability to work on one's own initiative and prioritize tasking within business goals and multiple programs simultaneously.
  • Experience with complex, fast-paced aerospace system development.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • Mechanical manufacturing build, test, and design for manufacturability.
  • Experience using laboratory equipment, including oscilloscopes, multimeters, AC/DC power supplies, and signal generators.
  • Familiarity with three-dimensional computer-aided design.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • A minimum of 12 years of related experience plus a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or a related field, or 12 or more years of relevant experience in an engineering discipline with the ability to design, analyze, and/or test.
Responsibilities
  • Create detailed work instructions for electrical and production shops covering manufacturing, production, testing, and tooling.
  • Define manufacturing processes step by step.
  • Identify design solutions and alternate part numbers and integrate them into products and programs.
  • Produce engineering documentation following industry standards, including section views, detail views, and flag notes.
  • Create process-improvement documentation to establish production-line standardization.
  • Define company practices and preferred manufacturing methods for mechanical manufacturing processes.
  • Implement aerospace industry standards and create desktop and shop-aid documentation.
  • Provide liaison engineering support in the electrical shop so technicians can complete assigned tasks.
  • Explain mechanical manufacturing processes based on company and aerospace industry standards.
  • Redline released engineering documentation.
  • Source and support the purchase of mechanical and system components, shop setup activities, and tooling.
  • Evaluate technical data and interact with disciplines involved in vehicle design, purchasing, manufacturing, integration, and testing.
  • Analyze and verify engineering requirements to estimate fabrication time and producibility within cost and schedule margins.
  • Lead a team of 5-10 Manufacturing Engineers across programs and projects.
  • Assign scope according to programmatic demand and team members' skill sets.
  • Ensure clear, concise work instructions, redline incorporation, and standards compliance.
  • Manage work instructions for fabricating, installing, or modifying mechanical systems and structures.
  • Create drawings and work instructions for tooling that supports production build activities.
  • Reference three-dimensional computer-aided design models and integrate them into two-dimensional environments.
  • Troubleshoot documentation issues and provide real-time support on the shop floor.
  • Troubleshoot electrical and avionics ground-test issues.
  • Develop test plans and procedures as required.
  • Support hypersonic vehicle integrated testing.
  • Support mechanical and system design efforts.
  • Contribute to shop layout, setup, and improvement efforts.
  • Provide regular and comprehensive communication to leadership.
  • Contribute to the integration of complex aerospace systems.
  • Travel as needed to support the department.
Desired Qualifications
  • Active security clearance.
  • Experience with Siemens Capital or Mentor Graphics.
  • Three-dimensional computer-aided design modeling experience with NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
  • Experience with LabVIEW.
  • Familiarity with configuration management systems, including Jira.

Stratolaunch designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to meet national needs for reliable, routine access to space and to advance the United States’ ability to design and operate hypersonic vehicles. Its offerings span the full end-to-end process of aerospace programs, from initial design through manufacturing to launch operations. The company differentiates itself by focusing on practical space access and the development of hypersonic capabilities, aiming to support national security and defense needs rather than pursuing consumer or commercial applications. The goal is to provide dependable ways to reach space regularly while pushing forward the nation’s hypersonic design and operational expertise.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Huntsville, Alabama

Founded

2011

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Elliott invested hundreds of millions on January 20, 2026, backing expansion.
  • NASA awarded Stratolaunch $1.2 million in 2026 to study Talon-A capabilities.
  • May 2026 MDA testing validates repeatable flight operations and strengthens procurement credibility.

What critics are saying

  • Defense revenue depends on MDA and Pentagon demand, creating single-buyer concentration.
  • Reusable hypersonic cadence still depends on flawless carrier operations, vehicle recovery, and refurbishment.
  • If Elliott capital fails to translate into durable contracts, hypersonics spending cools quickly.

What makes Stratolaunch unique

  • Stratolaunch is a pure-play hypersonics company, not a broad aerospace prime.
  • Talon-A3 flew reusable, autonomous, air-launched hypersonic tests for MDA on March 6, 2026.
  • Spirit of Mojave enables high-altitude releases and rapid turnaround from Mojave operations.

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Benefits

9/80 schedule

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

Paid Holidays

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Wellness Program

Mental Health Support

Conference Attendance Budget

Professional Development Budget

Stock Options

Company Equity

Phone/Internet Stipend

Home Office Stipend

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

17%

1 year growth

17%

2 year growth

17%
PR Newswire
Jul 30th, 2026
Stratolaunch named to Future Union's inaugural All-World Defense 300 list.

Stratolaunch named to Future Union's inaugural All-World Defense 300 list. Jul 30, 2026, 12:00 ET MOJAVE, Calif., July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Stratolaunch, a leading pure-play hypersonics company, today announced that it has been named to Future Union's inaugural All-World Defense 300, recognizing the most influential private companies that are shaping the future of defense and global national security. The All-World Defense 300 includes defense companies driving innovation and advancing technologies to strengthen national and allied security. Stratolaunch's inclusion reflects the company's continued momentum as a leading pure-play hypersonics company built to deliver the testing, targets, data and systems the U.S. and its allies need to compete in the next era of aerospace defense. "We're honored to be named to Future Union's inaugural All-World Defense 300 alongside organizations helping define the future of defense," said Zachary Krevor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stratolaunch. "Hypersonics are a national security necessity, and this recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and the progress we've made in assisting in the acceleration of U.S. leadership in the space. We are proud to be delivering the hypersonic flight test capabilities that our country and our customers need to accelerate the development of next-generation hypersonic technologies." Within the last year alone, Stratolaunch has achieved significant operational milestones that underscore the company's position at the forefront of hypersonic innovation, including: * The completion of more than 10 hypersonic flights with the reusable, fully autonomous Talon-A aircraft; * The successful execution of a Flight Test Experiment for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, supporting ongoing hypersonic flight testing; and, * The announcement of a $90.8M contract award under MACH-TB 2.0 Task 3 for air-launched capability test vehicles. Stratolaunch continues to expand its hypersonic flight test capabilities, demonstrating increasing operational cadence and providing customers with repeatable flight opportunities that generate real-world data needed to validate advanced systems. About Stratolaunch Stratolaunch is a leading pure-play hypersonics company focused on the design, manufacture and operation of advanced aerospace systems for national security. The company enables faster, more affordable and more realistic hypersonic development through an autonomous, reusable, air-launched flight test platform and a growing portfolio of hypersonic target and mission-system offerings. For the latest news and information, visit www.stratolaunch.com and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. SOURCE Stratolaunch

PR Newswire
Jul 21st, 2026
Stratolaunch completes 10+ flights with reusable hypersonic Talon-A aircraft

Stratolaunch has completed more than 10 successful hypersonic flights with its Talon-A aircraft, the first reusable, fully autonomous air-launched hypersonic vehicle. The milestone demonstrates the company's position in hypersonic innovation for government and commercial customers. Talon-A reaches speeds exceeding Mach 5 and is air-launched from Stratolaunch's carrier fleet. After completing its high-speed flight profile, the vehicle lands on a standard runway for recovery and reuse, reducing turnaround time and cost per flight. Each mission was conducted with no onboard crew, showcasing advanced autonomous systems. Multiple flights used the same vehicle, validating Stratolaunch's approach to rapid refurbishment and redeployment. "We are transforming hypersonic testing from a rare event into a routine service," said Dr Zachary Krevor, CEO and president of Stratolaunch.

PR Newswire
May 21st, 2026
Stratolaunch completes hypersonic test flight for US Missile Defense Agency

Stratolaunch successfully conducted a hypersonic test flight for the US Missile Defense Agency on 6 March 2026, using its Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft, Spirit of Mojave, and the Talon-A3 hypersonic vehicle. The mission, designated Flight Test Experiment Other-04, launched from Mojave Air and Space Port. The Spirit of Mojave transported the Talon-A3 to planned release conditions, enabling the aircraft to begin its flight profile at higher altitudes. Stratolaunch operates the world's largest aircraft designed for air-launch missions and high-speed flight research. The Talon-A fleet serves as reusable hypersonic test platforms designed to collect data in high-speed flight environments, supporting government and industry efforts to advance hypersonic technologies with flexible global flight operations and rapid mission turnaround.

Mark Allen Group
Feb 9th, 2026
NASA awards hypersonic vehicle research contracts

NASA awards hypersonic vehicle research contracts. NASA has awarded two contracts to explore how current vehicle platforms could be modified to provide reusable, affordable flight-testing capabilities for airbreathing hypersonic aircraft. SpaceWorks Enterprises, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Stratolaunch, of Mojave, California, will each conduct six-month studies examining ways to bridge the gap between hypersonic ground and flight tests. SpaceWorks received US$500,000 to focus on the X-60 platform, while Stratolaunch received US$1.2 million to study its Talon-A platform. Unlike rocket-powered vehicles that carry their own oxygen supply, airbreathing hypersonic aircraft take in surrounding air as they fly. This approach enables much longer sustained cruising at hypersonic speeds - defined as five times the speed of sound. "With these awards, NASA will collaborate with the commercial hypersonics industry to identify new ways to evaluate technologies through flight tests while we address the challenges of reusable, routine, airbreathing, hypersonic flight," said Dr Nateri Madavan, director of NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles Program. The studies aim to define the capabilities needed to achieve flight test requirements for air-breathing hypersonic aircraft, with a focus on high-cadence, cost-effective testing. The work will also potentially support a future NASA Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) project. MACH would focus on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles through the development of supporting infrastructure, including cost estimates and schedule requirements for a potential flight vehicle.

PR Newswire
Jan 20th, 2026
Stratolaunch Raises Significant Capital to Further Accelerate Hypersonic Capability at Scale

/PRNewswire/ -- Stratolaunch has completed a significant capital raise to accelerate growth and welcomes Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its...