Technical Lead, Launch Vehicle - First Stage

Astra’s mission is to improve life on Earth from space by creating a healthier and more connected planet. Today, Astra offers one of the lowest cost-per-launch dedicated orbital launch services, and one of the industry’s leading flight-proven electric propulsion systems for satellites, the Astra Spacecraft Engine.

The Team

​At Astra, we're revolutionizing space launch systems through agile, iterative development, enabling rapid advancements in our technology. Central to this approach is our Launch Product Development team, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our rockets. This team engages in both immediate and long-term analyses to determine which systems to develop and when, leads technical teams through design and development phases, manages company-wide requirements, and conducts comprehensive engineering reviews. Collaborating closely with diverse stakeholders within and outside Astra, the team delivers solutions grounded in physics and engineering principles, ensuring we're building the right systems to advance our mission.​

The Opportunity 

As a key technical leader at Astra, you’ll drive the end-to-end development of launch vehicle systems—from early concept and design through qualification, production, and flight operations. You'll lead a cross-functional team focused on delivering flight-ready hardware that meets cost, schedule, and performance goals. This includes owning system design, managing risk, guiding manufacturing processes, and ensuring readiness for launch.

How You'll Fulfill Your Mission

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Design Efforts: Oversee the design and development of launch vehicle stage systems, ensuring they meet performance, reliability, and cost objectives.​
• Partner: Collaborate with Engineering and cross-functional teams to develop systems that enhance Astra's operations, providing insights to optimize team workflows.​
• Build: Create designs that fulfill customer needs, informing engineering decisions to support launch system requirements.​
• Collaborate: Work across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and Production organizations to ensure seamless product integration and alignment with design intent.​
• Develop: Establish and oversee processes that maintain disciplined design and development practices for launch vehicle systems.​

Additional Responsibilities:

• Own the technical lifecycle of products from development through qualification and production.
• Act as the design authority for stage development.
• Lead system design and analysis for flight systems.
• Deliver operational launch vehicle stage systems on time and within budget.​
• Support program planning and execution, including scope, scheduling, and resource allocation.​
• Identify, document, and mitigate technical risks and opportunities.​
• Communicate technical status, critical paths, challenges, and solutions effectively.​
• Provide technical oversight for various hardware solutions.​
• Support requirement decomposition, systems engineering, design, analysis, and verification/validation.​
• Manage internal and external interfaces.​
• Oversee issue tracking, drawing releases, work orders, and test planning.​
• Ensure designs are cost-effective, producible, and testable.

Why We Value You

• 8+ years of product development and leadership experience
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across various domains, including mechanical, propulsion, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, electronics, avionics, software, and production
• Experience leading projects and making informed decisions with incomplete data
• Demonstrated technical expertise in at least two of the following areas: space-qualified launch vehicles, propulsion systems, fluid/mechanical systems, avionics, manufacturing, systems engineering, integration, and testing
• Proficiency in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, technical drawings, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Experience in designing parts and selecting appropriate manufacturing methods, including machining, welding, brazing, and metal forming
• Strong background in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
• Desire and capability to lead and manage teams engaged in fast-paced hardware and flight projects
• Familiarity with systems engineering processes, including requirement decomposition and allocation, system architecture, and verification/validation planning
• Experience in managing technical risks and opportunities, including risk identification, documentation, communication, and mitigation planning
• Ability to oversee issue tracking, drawing releases, work orders, and test planning
• Commitment to ensuring designs are cost-effective, producible, and testable

Desired Multipliers 

• Proven experience in designing and analyzing structures, ensuring compliance with safety and performance standards
• In-depth understanding of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics, facilitating effective system design and problem-solving
• Skilled in cost estimation, budgeting, and schedule management, leading projects to successful completion within scope and constraints
• Extensive involvement from requirements gathering through to field operations, demonstrating the ability to oversee products from conception to deployment
• Adept at interfacing with external customers, subcontractors, and suppliers, ensuring clear communication and alignment throughout project phases

The pay range for this role is: $157,250-193,800 per year

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base salary range in the San Francisco Bay Area and excludes additional earnings such as bonus and benefits. If your salary requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply.

You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Astra, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

San Francisco Applicants: Astra will consider applicants with arrest and conviction records (criminal histories) in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

ITAR Requirements: This position requires compliance with U.S. Government space technology  trade restrictions, specifically the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and additional regulations governing satellite, launch vehicle, missile, and other related technologies. All jobs restricted by these regulations will be contingent upon the applicant’s status as a documented U.S. Person or their ability to receive a trade license from the cognizant government agency; in addition to any required company background checks and in compliance with applicable U.S. and California laws. Similarly, positions requiring the ability to work on government contracts or a security clearance are also contingent upon the applicants ability to receive the appropriate clearance and be allowed to work on U.S. government contracts.

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