Structures Design Engineer II

Department: Airframe

Location: San Francisco

Compensation: $120K – $160K

Employment Type: FullTime

ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy.

WHO YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Structures Engineer to join our growing team. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in structural design principles and a passion for solving challenging aerospace problems. You’re eager to apply your engineering education and early career experience to real aircraft hardware, while learning from experienced engineers across disciplines. You’ll play a key role in helping to design, analyze, and test advanced aerospace structures that directly contribute to the performance and safety of our vehicles.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Contribute to the design and analysis of composite and metallic structures for high-performance aircraft

• Support structural layout and configuration development with guidance from senior engineers

• Perform CAD modeling, drawings, and basic structural analysis (hand calcs and FEA)

• Assist with trade studies balancing performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (aero, propulsion, manufacturing, test) to define and support structural requirements

• Participate in design reviews, manufacturing support, and testing activities

• Document work clearly and maintain configuration control of designs and models

• Learn from senior engineers and steadily grow technical depth and autonomy

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related field

• 3+ years of experience in structural design and analysis

• Familiarity with composite and metallic materials, structural design principles, and manufacturing processes

• Hands-on proficiency in CAD (e.g. NX, SolidWorks, or similar)

• Exposure to structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEA tools such as Nastran, Abaqus, or Ansys)

• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to take initiative

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment

• Enthusiasm for learning, building, and contributing to innovative aerospace vehicles

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan

• Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time

• Flexible work environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.