Outpost
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Mechanical Engineer
role at
Outpost
Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)
Outpost is pioneering Earth return logistics for space. We're building vehicles that can return payloads from orbit safely and precisely—enabling faster space-based manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. Our spacecraft is already backed by the U.S. government with multiple missions ahead. We’re a mission-focused team, building with urgency, grit, and care for the work we do and the people we do it with.
The Role We’re looking for a
Mechanical Engineer
who will own the design, analysis, and development of Outpost’s atmospheric recovery systems. This role sits at the intersection of structures, thermals, mechanisms, and aerodynamics—translating system requirements into flight-ready hardware.
You will lead the mechanical design of components and assemblies that survive hypersonic reentry, transition into controlled flight, and deliver payloads with unprecedented accuracy. This includes mechanisms, interfaces, deployables, rigid and soft-goods integration, and structural elements across the CarryAll vehicle families.
This is a hands‑on engineering role in a fast-moving environment. You will be working directly with GNC, TPS, test, avionics, and manufacturing teams to mature hardware through analysis, prototyping, testing, and flight.
Qualifications
3‑5 years industry experience in mechanical design for aerospace hardware.
Work on‑site in Playa Vista, California.
Strong proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) and mechanical analysis tools (structural/thermal in Ansys – SolidWorks acceptable).
Experience designing structures, mechanisms, deployables, and aerodynamic structures (parachutes/paragliders, flaps, linkages, hinges, etc.).
Deep understanding of load path, interfaces, and environmental requirements for high‑energy flight environments.
Experience taking hardware from concept to production and/or flight.
Comfortable working in ambiguous environments and iterating quickly with cross‑functional teams.
Comfortable executing rapid, hands‑on prototypes to support fast design‑build‑test cycles.
Excellent documentation, communication, and technical writing skills.
Responsibilities
Design and develop mechanical systems for atmospheric recovery, including deployable structures, aerodynamic decelerators, recovery mechanisms, airframe interfaces, and precision landing hardware.
Own hardware through the full lifecycle: concept, requirements, CAD, FEA, prototyping, assembly, qualification, and flight.
Perform structural, thermal, and mechanism analyses to validate designs under extreme loads, temperatures, and dynamic environments.
Lead mechanical design integration between rigid structures, paraglider systems, soft goods, and flight hardware.
Partner closely with GNC and aerodynamics teams to ensure mechanical designs enable required precision, controllability, and performance.
Develop test plans and support ground, wind‑tunnel, and flight tests for atmospheric recovery subsystems.
Drive design reviews (PDR/CDR) and prepare clear documentation, drawings, BOMs, and work instructions.
Additional Skills or Expertise
Experience with reentry systems, atmospheric flight vehicles, TPS interfaces, or parachute/paraglider systems.
Background integrating soft goods with rigid structures.
Experience in hypersonic, supersonic, or high‑aero‑load environments.
Field test experience (drop tests, flight tests, parachute deployments, etc.).
Familiarity with DOF‑limited mechanisms and precision actuation in harsh environments.
Compensation
$95,000 – $150,000 Salary (may vary with experience)
Incentive Equity
Annual Performance‑Based Bonus
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
PTO
401(k) with Company match
Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee
You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. 21.15, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Outpost by 2x
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Mechanical Engineer
role at
Outpost
Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)
Outpost is pioneering Earth return logistics for space. We're building vehicles that can return payloads from orbit safely and precisely—enabling faster space-based manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. Our spacecraft is already backed by the U.S. government with multiple missions ahead. We’re a mission-focused team, building with urgency, grit, and care for the work we do and the people we do it with.
The Role We’re looking for a
Mechanical Engineer
who will own the design, analysis, and development of Outpost’s atmospheric recovery systems. This role sits at the intersection of structures, thermals, mechanisms, and aerodynamics—translating system requirements into flight-ready hardware.
You will lead the mechanical design of components and assemblies that survive hypersonic reentry, transition into controlled flight, and deliver payloads with unprecedented accuracy. This includes mechanisms, interfaces, deployables, rigid and soft-goods integration, and structural elements across the CarryAll vehicle families.
This is a hands‑on engineering role in a fast-moving environment. You will be working directly with GNC, TPS, test, avionics, and manufacturing teams to mature hardware through analysis, prototyping, testing, and flight.
Qualifications
3‑5 years industry experience in mechanical design for aerospace hardware.
Work on‑site in Playa Vista, California.
Strong proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) and mechanical analysis tools (structural/thermal in Ansys – SolidWorks acceptable).
Experience designing structures, mechanisms, deployables, and aerodynamic structures (parachutes/paragliders, flaps, linkages, hinges, etc.).
Deep understanding of load path, interfaces, and environmental requirements for high‑energy flight environments.
Experience taking hardware from concept to production and/or flight.
Comfortable working in ambiguous environments and iterating quickly with cross‑functional teams.
Comfortable executing rapid, hands‑on prototypes to support fast design‑build‑test cycles.
Excellent documentation, communication, and technical writing skills.
Responsibilities
Design and develop mechanical systems for atmospheric recovery, including deployable structures, aerodynamic decelerators, recovery mechanisms, airframe interfaces, and precision landing hardware.
Own hardware through the full lifecycle: concept, requirements, CAD, FEA, prototyping, assembly, qualification, and flight.
Perform structural, thermal, and mechanism analyses to validate designs under extreme loads, temperatures, and dynamic environments.
Lead mechanical design integration between rigid structures, paraglider systems, soft goods, and flight hardware.
Partner closely with GNC and aerodynamics teams to ensure mechanical designs enable required precision, controllability, and performance.
Develop test plans and support ground, wind‑tunnel, and flight tests for atmospheric recovery subsystems.
Drive design reviews (PDR/CDR) and prepare clear documentation, drawings, BOMs, and work instructions.
Additional Skills or Expertise
Experience with reentry systems, atmospheric flight vehicles, TPS interfaces, or parachute/paraglider systems.
Background integrating soft goods with rigid structures.
Experience in hypersonic, supersonic, or high‑aero‑load environments.
Field test experience (drop tests, flight tests, parachute deployments, etc.).
Familiarity with DOF‑limited mechanisms and precision actuation in harsh environments.
Compensation
$95,000 – $150,000 Salary (may vary with experience)
Incentive Equity
Annual Performance‑Based Bonus
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
PTO
401(k) with Company match
Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee
You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. 21.15, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Engineering and Information Technology
Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Outpost by 2x
#J-18808-Ljbffr