Mechanical Engineering Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Please Note:  To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At  CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead our mechanical engineering organization, providing both people leadership and technical direction across multiple programs. This role is responsible for building and scaling a high-performing team, establishing robust engineering processes, and ensuring the successful execution of program deliverables.

As a key member of the engineering leadership team, this individual will drive strategic initiatives, support business growth, and influence product roadmap decisions. In addition to developing engineering talent, the Manager will serve as a senior technical authority, leading complex mechanical system and hardware development across the full product lifecycle—from concept through in-orbit support—for aerospace and space applications.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Lead, mentor, and scale a team of mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities to support business objectives and program needs.
• Set clear performance expectations; provide coaching, feedback, and formal performance evaluations.
• Drive employee engagement, retention, and career development initiatives.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit top engineering talent.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance team environment.
• Serve as the mechanical engineering authority across multiple programs, ensuring technical excellence and consistency.
• Lead mechanical architecture development, trade studies, and key design decisions aligned with product roadmaps.
• Oversee system-level requirements definition, validation, and interface management.
• Guide teams through the full development lifecycle: concept, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, testing, and qualification.
• Provide technical oversight for high-risk or high-visibility programs, ensuring milestone success.
• Lead and participate in internal and external design reviews, including presentations to customers and executive leadership.
• Define, implement, and continuously improve mechanical engineering processes, including design standards, analysis methodologies, and verification/validation frameworks.
• Establish and maintain technical documentation standards across programs.
• Ensure effective allocation and prioritization of engineering resources.
• Drive accountability for schedule, cost, quality, and technical performance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management teams.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and partners to support program execution.
• Contribute to product roadmap development through mechanical technology strategy and innovation.
• Support proposal efforts, including technical solutioning, resource planning, and cost estimation.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Help shape long-term strategy for mechanical engineering capabilities and capacity.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 7–9 years of experience in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace or space systems with a minimum of 1-3 years of engineering management experience.
• Deep expertise in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace/space applications.
• Experience with electronics packaging at PCBA and system levels.
• Strong understanding of structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis.
• Knowledge of environmental testing and qualification standards for space hardware.
• Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes (e.g., CNC machining, composites, additive manufacturing).
• Understanding of system integration, AI&T, and launch constraints.
• Proven ability to lead technical trade studies and make architecture-level decisions.
• Experience developing and implementing engineering processes and best practices.
• Proficiency with CAD and PDM tools (e.g., SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM or equivalent)
• Experience with simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar FEA tools)
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.