Principal Mechanical Engineer (Structures)

Job Description

Job Description

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)

Launch has changed the economics of space. Now it is time to return.

Outpost is building the missing infrastructure between orbit and Earth: reusable vehicles that can bring payloads back from space and deliver them to a precise location within hours. We call it exologistics, space-to-Earth logistics at planetary scale. This is not a paper concept or a distant roadmap. Our system is in active development, with core technologies advancing toward flight readiness.

The need is already here and the market has responded. We have validated demand through multiple defense and civil agreements, and a growing pipeline across government and commercial customers.

Outpost is building the logistics layer that makes space economically useful in a new way: the ability to move material from orbit to Earth quickly, reliably, and affordably. Over time, that supports point-to-point logistics, 10 tons of cargo, anywhere on Earth in an hour. It also creates the foundation for a reusable reentry network and enables new categories of space activity, including in-space manufacturing, supporting AI data centers, advanced manufacturing and novel materials.

We have a strong foundation, clear demand, and a technical path in front of us. Now the company is scaling rapidly. We are expanding the team, growing our operational footprint, and building the systems needed to execute at the next level. This is a chance to join a company with real traction, working on a problem that matters, at the point where execution and scale begin to define the outcome.

The Role

The Principal Mechanical Engineer will serve as the technical authority for the primary and secondary structures of Outpost's Carryall. This is a role for a veteran structural engineer who has expertise on full-scale flight vehicles whether launch vehicles, satellites, or re-entry capsules. Unlike traditional space vehicle roles where the structure simply needs to survive launch, you are designing for the round trip: launch vibration, the harsh vacuum of orbit, and the extreme thermal and mechanical loads of hypersonic re-entry and landing. You will own the structural architecture of the vehicle, moving rapidly from trade studies to detailed analysis, and finally to hands-on integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of the entire vehicle structure, including primary structure, interfaces to the deployable heatshield, secondary structures, and payload bay
• Perform and sign off on detailed hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS/FEMAP/NASTRAN). You will be the final check on stiffness, buckling, and thermal expansion compatibility.
• Create and approve high-quality manufacturing drawings with appropriate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (ASME Y14.5) to ensure parts fit the first time.
• "Get your hands dirty" leading the assembly of your designs. Own the structural test campaign (static load, random vibration, shock, and deployment testing) to qualify hardware for flight.
• Work directly with machine shops, composite vendors, and external partners to resolve fabrication conflicts and ensure on-time delivery of precision parts.
• Elevate the team's standard of engineering rigor. Mentor junior engineers in design best practices, analysis methods, and First Principles thinking.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in the design and analysis of complex aerospace structures and mechanisms.
• Proven track record working on space vehicles or rockets.
• Experience taking a primary structure from concept through PDR/CDR to flight.
• Expert-level skill in Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or similar parametric modeling software.
• Experience in structural analysis (FEA) and classical hand calculations. You must trust your hand calcs before you trust the solver.
• Working knowledge of aerospace materials (aluminum, titanium, Inconel, composites) and their behavior in extreme thermal environments.
• Experience in designing for manufacturing, CNC machining, sheet metal, welding, and composite layup.

Preferred Experience

• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance (Not required, but beneficial)
• Experience with deployable space structures and mechanisms (booms, solar arrays, antennas, or aerobrakes).
• Experience designing for high-heat environments or integrating with Thermal Protection Systems (TPS).
• Proficiency in scripting (Python/MATLAB) for design automation or data post-processing.
• Deep knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA-STD-5000 series, SMC-S-016) for structural margins and testing.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation : $225,000– $245,000; (commensurate with experience).
• Additional Compensation: Annual performance-based bonuses that reward your impact.
• Shared upside: Meaningful equity in Outpost so you share directly in the value you help create.
• Comprehensive healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your loved ones covered. We cover the base tier of medical insurance and all premiums of vision and dental.
  
• Protection when it matters: Company-provided short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind, plus life insurance for even more security.
• PTO: Recharge on your own terms with paid time off, plus 9 days of paid holidays.
• Invest in your future: 401(k) with company match to help you build long-term wealth.
• Fueled for the mission: Daily DoorDash lunch stipend, plus unlimited snacks, coffee, and tea to keep you energized.
• Mission that matters: Work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders from aerospace, new space, and deep-tech industries building the future of orbital infrastructure.
• Pet Friendly Office: Bring your furry friend into the office so that they can be a part of our mission too.
• Monthly Company Happy Hours and Events: Drinks at the local bar, hibachi nights, mini golfing and more!