---
title: 'Environmental Health & Safety Lead at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/environmental-health-safety-lead-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-78ws8am2tnep'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-31'
---

# Environmental Health & Safety Lead at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $150k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-10-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-31
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/45c25ce1-1f4a-42a3-bf45-4c4723aaa12d

## Job description

## ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. We apply aerospace engineering and quality standards across our products, delivering high performance, reliability, and efficiency for the most demanding operating environments. Astro Mechanica is backed by leading venture and strategic investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Giant Step Capital, United Airlines Ventures, and Voyager Ventures.

## 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 looking for a hands-on Environmental Health & Safety Lead to own safety for our test operations first and build the EHS function from there. You will work directly with engineering, test, manufacturing, facilities, and leadership to make high-energy work — combustion testing, fuels, high-pressure systems, rotating equipment, and high voltage — safer, more repeatable, and easier to execute responsibly. This is not a desk-only compliance role: you will spend real time on the production floor, in labs, and at test sites, leading training, participating in test readiness reviews, verifying controls in the field, and solving problems in real time. You will build a proportionate EHS system that scales as we add people, equipment, facilities, and test activity. Your first priority is a safety baseline for our test site, then the permits and programs that support it.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Define and put in place the safety baseline for our test operations and new test site, including the site safety plan, emergency response, test readiness reviews, and the programs California requires (such as the Injury and Illness Prevention Program)
- Build the EHS program in phases, starting with test site safety and extending to manufacturing: risk register, written programs, training matrix, inspections, and corrective-action process
- Select and manage EHS consultants and training providers, and decide what the company needs now versus later
- Turn requests from engineering, test, and facilities into one prioritized EHS plan
- Own core safety programs, including LOTO, electrical safety, hot work, confined space, fall protection, chemical safety, and PPE
- Lead hazard analyses, test readiness reviews, and management of change for combustion, fuel, high-pressure, and high-voltage testing
- Deliver hands-on training and field support for commissioning, heavy lifts, rigging, forklifts, and aerial lifts
- Own permitting and agency engagement with Cal/OSHA, fire departments, CUPAs, and BAAQMD; start with the permits that gate test operations, including fuel delivery, then air and environmental permits; keep records inspection-ready
- Build emergency response plans and lead incident investigations that drive corrective actions to closure
- Plan EHS requirements for the manufacturing floor ahead of its build-out, including needed certifications and programs (for example, whether a drug testing program applies)
- Respond to agency citations and charges in partnership with legal counsel

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- 7+ years of EHS experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, energy, or other high-consequence hardware environments
- Proven track record standing up EHS programs from scratch or near scratch in a startup or rapidly scaling operation
- Ability to execute a defined safety plan yourself first and grow the function as the company scales; we are hiring an owner and doer before a department head
- Deep working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, including the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, and core programs such as LOTO, machine guarding, electrical safety, and industrial hygiene
- Hands-on experience with high-hazard operations, ideally testing of high-voltage, electricity-producing machines, along with combustion testing, pressure systems, fuels, or crane and rigging
- Experience securing permits and working with fire departments, CUPAs, air districts, and other AHJs
- Experience selecting and managing EHS consultants and training providers
- Sound judgment under pressure: you make the call when work is unsafe and help redesign it so it can proceed
- Aerospace propulsion or hot-fire test experience.
- Credentials such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or HAZWOPER are a plus

## PERKS & 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.

## About Astro Mechanica

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Astro Mechanica is building the world’s first turboelectric adaptive jet engine (Duality) that achieves high efficiency across both subsonic and supersonic speeds, aiming to democratize high-speed flight.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; latest round: Series A-II / Venture Round in September 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Ian Brooke (CEO & Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Aerospace, aviation propulsion, defense systems
- **Target customers**: US government (military and defense applications), commercial aviation (long-term), cargo/logistics
- **Mission/purpose**: “Democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable” – developing rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility.

## Products & Services
- **Duality™ Propulsion System**: A proprietary dual-use turboelectric adaptive jet engine designed to be efficient at all speeds from subsonic to supersonic. Currently in development and expected to begin altitude testing in 2027 on a dedicated testbed aircraft.
- **Airframe & Flight Systems**: Vertically integrated design of airframes and flight control systems optimized for the Duality engine, with near-term focus on government contracts.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – **$54.7 million** as of the latest venture round in September 2025 (LinkedIn data; earlier reports by CBInsights indicated $27.6 million, likely reflecting a prior round)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: United Airlines Ventures (lead investor in latest round), Andreessen Horowitz, Giant Step Capital, Y Combinator (seed)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew **228.6% year-over-year** to ~35 employees; **36 active job postings** as of mid-2025; rapid hiring across engineering, manufacturing, and leadership roles; moving toward engine flight test in 2027.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Unique engine architecture**: The turboelectric adaptive design allows a single engine to operate efficiently from subsonic to supersonic regimes, removing the need for afterburners or separate engines.
- **Vertical integration**: In-house engine, airframe, and flight systems development enables tight optimization and rapid iteration.
- **Flat engineering culture**: Described as “generalists with specialist depth” and a flat structure that accelerates decision-making and innovation.

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Engine altitude testing (scheduled for 2027) and securing US government contracts for high-speed systems.
- **Long-term**: Develop a full aircraft platform and operational model for economically viable supersonic commercial travel.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasis on engineering excellence, pragmatism, and moving fast. Flat hierarchy where “engineering speaks louder than hierarchy.”
- **Work policy**: Hybrid environment – most roles are based in San Francisco with a mix of in-office and remote collaboration. The majority of job listings specify “In-Office” at the HQ.
- **Notable perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company offers equity (typical for startups) and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking aerospace technology from concept to flight.
- **Engineering focus**: Strong technical team with talent from SpaceX, Relativity Space, Boom Supersonic, Lockheed Martin, and Astra. Active hiring in propulsion, flight software, GNC, test engineering, and manufacturing.

## Sources
1. [astromecha.co](https://www.astromecha.co/)
2. [astromecha.co/careers](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica)
3. [linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.linkedin.com/company/astro-mechanica)
4. [cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/astro-mechanica)
5. [builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica](https://builtin.com/company/astro-mechanica)

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