Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle Integration

About Gravitics  

At Gravitics, we're not just exploring space—we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture the large-scale structures and systems that will power human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond. If you're ready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther, Gravitics is the place for you. Let's build the future, together.  

About the Role  

To build our space systems, we need an exceptional engineer to own cargo integration from initial vehicle layout through flight hardware and mission operations.  

You will lead a team responsible for developing the cargo architecture and initial layout for a clean-sheet spacecraft, including both internally and externally mounted cargo. This includes powered and passive cargo, vehicle-level packaging and interface definition, and the detailed secondary structure required to secure and support cargo throughout the mission.  

This is a highly cross-functional role. You will work across vehicle configuration, structures, avionics, thermal, operations, manufacturing, and mission teams to balance competing requirements and develop an integrated cargo solution. You will own the system from early trades and layout through detailed design, analysis, test, manufacturing, vehicle integration, and ultimately mission support.  

Responsibilities:  

• Lead the development of the vehicle's cargo architecture and layout, including internally and externally mounted powered and passive cargo.  
• Own cargo packaging and integration trades, balancing volume, mass, center of gravity, accessibility, structural load paths, thermal constraints, electrical interfaces, crew/operational considerations, and vehicle-level requirements.  
• Define and manage cargo mechanical interfaces, keep-out zones, mounting provisions, and secondary structure.  
• Lead a small engineering team through cargo layout, trade studies, detailed design, analysis, and hardware delivery.  
• Work closely with vehicle configuration and other subsystem teams to resolve integration conflicts and drive the overall vehicle design toward closure.  
• Design secondary structures, brackets, restraints, mounting provisions, and other hardware required to integrate cargo with the vehicle.  
• Apply first-order hand calculations and empirical methods to rapidly assess concepts, understand load paths, and iterate designs.  
• Build and evaluate finite element models to assess structural performance and demonstrate compliance with vehicle requirements.  
• Design for relevant environments including pressure, acceleration, vibration, shock, thermal loading, and launch/landing loads.  
• Create detailed component and assembly drawings with appropriate application of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and manufacturing requirements.  
• Develop structural and integration test plans, support test execution, evaluate results, and generate verification reports.  
• Work directly with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams to take hardware from design through production and vehicle integration.  
• Own the schedule and budget for assigned cargo integration and structural hardware.  
• Support manufacturing and integration by dispositioning non-conformances and resolving hardware issues quickly.  
• Serve as the technical owner and subject-matter expert for the cargo system from initial concept through mission operations.  

About You  

You’re a successful candidate if you are a giver, not a taker. You have an ability to make things happen. You are exceptional at several things, yet willing to take on efforts in areas of weakness.  

Required Attributes  

• 5+ years of industry experience in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.  
• Demonstrated ownership of complex mechanical or aerospace projects from concept through hardware delivery.  
• Experience with spacecraft, aircraft, launch vehicle, or other complex vehicle packaging and mechanical integration.  
• Strong mechanical design fundamentals, including structural load paths, joints, interfaces, and secondary structures.  
• Knowledge of relevant structural environments including acceleration, pressure, vibration, shock, and thermal loading, and experience designing hardware for these environments.  
• Experience performing first-order structural analysis and using finite element analysis to support detailed design.  
• Experience developing and executing structural or mechanical verification test plans.  
• Proficiency with CAD and engineering analysis tools such as NX and Simcenter 3D, or equivalent packages.  
• Strong understanding and application of engineering drawing practices, GD&T, and ASME Y14.5.  
• Ability to work effectively across structures, configuration, avionics, thermal, manufacturing, operations, and other engineering disciplines.  
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction and lead a small team through an ambiguous, rapidly evolving design problem.  
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.  

Bonus Points for  

• Experience with spacecraft cargo, payload, or secondary-structure integration.  
• Experience developing vehicle-level cargo or payload layouts from a clean-sheet configuration.  
• Experience with both internally and externally mounted spacecraft hardware.  
• Experience integrating powered payloads or cargo requiring electrical, thermal, or data interfaces.  
• Proven history of delivering flight hardware for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other space systems.  
• Experience with human spaceflight cargo requirements, including stowage, restraint, accessibility, handling, and operational considerations.  
• Deep working knowledge of welded and bolted joints, structural analysis of joints, design for manufacturability, material selection, and heat-treatment processes.  
• Experience supporting vehicle integration, launch-site operations, or mission operations.  

Compensation and Benefits

Your level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the considerations of job-related knowledge and skills, education, and direct experience. Salary is just one component of the total employee package, which also includes company equity at an exciting time of company growth, as well as comprehensive medical, 401(k) retirement plan, a generous PTO policy, employee discounts, and more. 

About Compliance

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Gravitics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

 

Salary Range

$140,000—$180,000 USD