Senior Mechanical Engineer, Space Systems Lead

GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions.

At our core is the space robotics technology that has defined GITAI from the beginning. A small, highly capable engineering team applies that foundation across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for applications such as Earth observation. Today, a major focus of our work is supporting U.S. national security missions, particularly through proliferated LEO satellite constellations and other next-generation space systems.

We design, build, integrate, and test much of our hardware in-house. Electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams work closely together, allowing a small team to own complete systems rather than isolated components. This vertical integration helps us move quickly, learn directly from hardware, and shorten the path from architecture to a working system.

We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. Requirements change, technical problems are often ambiguous, and many answers do not yet exist. We are looking for exceptional engineers and operators who want broad ownership, can work across disciplines, and are willing to stay close to the hardware until the mission succeeds.

Your Mission

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer at GITAI, you will lead mechanical design at the project level, from early system architecture through detailed design, manufacturing, integration, testing, and redesign. Your responsibility extends beyond an individual component or subsystem. You will understand the system as a whole, make the mechanical design decisions needed to move the project forward, and stay hands-on in CAD, early hardware builds, integration, and testing. This role requires strong technical judgment. Requirements will often be incomplete, several approaches may appear viable, and test data may be limited. You will identify the critical constraints, make clear tradeoffs, choose a direction, and accelerate the design-build-test loop.

This is a senior individual-contributor role. You will provide technical direction and review the work of other engineers while continuing to build and test hardware yourself. Prior space or defense experience is not required. We value engineers who learn unfamiliar technical domains quickly, approach new problems with an open mind, and apply strong engineering judgment developed in other industries to space and defense missions.

What You’ll Drive

• Lead mechanical design across projects, from early architecture and trade studies through detailed design, build, and test.
• Make critical technical decisions under ambiguous requirements, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, schedule, and cost.
• Stay deeply hands-on. Design hardware yourself, support early fabrication and assembly, run tests, diagnose failures, and iterate quickly.
• Accelerate the design-build-test loop by finding the shortest path to real hardware and useful test data.
• Lead design reviews and raise the technical bar for mechanical engineering across the team.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
• 7+ years of hands-on mechanical engineering experience developing complex hardware.
• Strong technical judgment and a track record of making sound design decisions with incomplete information.
• Deep experience personally taking hardware from concept through design, fabrication, assembly, test, and iteration.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical design, GD&T, materials, manufacturing processes, structural analysis, and system-level tradeoffs.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, as this role may require access to classified projects and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
• Travel: Offsite integration and test work is expected based on program needs. Travel may increase during critical test campaigns.
• Typical Work Hours: Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00am to 6:00pm. Flexibility is expected based on mission schedules and program needs.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is expected to be $155,000 to $200,000.Actual compensation and final level will be determined based on relevant experience, demonstrated mechanical-design capability, technical leadership, hands-on manufacturing and test experience, and other job-related factors. This position is also eligible for stock options and company benefits.

• Health Insurance – Platinum medical plan with 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 90% for dependents
• 401(k) Plan – Company match up to 3.5%, with traditional and Roth options
• Equity – Stock option eligibility depending on role
• Relocation Support – Available for qualifying positions
• Time Off – 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days of paid vacation per year, and paid sick leave (in accordance with applicable law)
• Office Perks – Free snacks and drinks, plus regular team events

GITAI does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. We work only with recruiting partners that have been specifically engaged by GITAI. No fees will be paid for resumes submitted without a prior agreement.

Compensation may include base salary or hourly pay and, depending on the position, equity. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, skillset, and other job-related factors.

LA salary range

$155,000 - $200,000 USD

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), GITAI Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.
• GITAI USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with GITAI USA is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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