---
title: 'Mechanical Designer IV at Quantum Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-designer-iv-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-zeq07z8qjr4x'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-04'
---

# Mechanical Designer IV at Quantum Space

- **Company:** Quantum Space
- **Location:** Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-06-05
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-04
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quantumspacellc/jobs/4274581009

## Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Designer to own the detailed CAD design execution and configuration quality of flight hardware across our Spacecraft Programs.  This is a high-impact, hands-on design leadership role for someone who can take ambiguous spacecraft packaging constraints and translate them into clean, producible, testable hardware—then shepherd that design through release, build, integration, and test. You will partner daily with mechanical/structures/thermal engineers, AIT, manufacturing, supply chain, and systems to deliver flight-ready mechanical assemblies for Ranger spacecraft.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

- Own detailed mechanical CAD for spacecraft structures, mechanisms, secondary structure, brackets, harness routing accommodations, and payload mounting features
- Build and maintain large top-level Creo assemblies with strong configuration discipline: envelopes, mass properties, interference control, motion/clearance checks, access constraints, and fastener strategy
- Drive spacecraft packaging execution: volume optimization, keep-outs, service loops, access for torque/inspection, tool clearance, contamination control considerations, and integration sequence-friendly design
- Create, check, and release flight drawings (and drawing packages) with correct GD&T, material callouts, finishes, treatments, and inspection requirements (ASME Y14.5 mindset)
- Own BOM accuracy and part metadata integrity in Windchill (part lifecycle, revisioning, effectivity, serialization strategy where applicable)
- Partner with AIT to ensure designs are buildable and testable: torque access, alignment features, witness marks, datum strategy, handling points, lifting features, GSE interfaces
- Support on-site spacecraft integration: fit checks, rework disposition support, redlines-to-release, and fast iteration during build anomalies
- Provide design leadership and mentorship: define “good” CAD practices, model tree hygiene, drawing standards, and release readiness checklists
- Produce design content for PDR/CDR/production readiness reviews, including configuration views, interface snapshots, tolerance stack summaries, and assembly sequences

What It Takes

- BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field (or equivalent demonstrable work products in spacecraft/aerospace design)
- 10+ years of professional mechanical design experience in aerospace/spacecraft or similarly high-rigor hardware environments
- Expert proficiency in PTC Creo (top-down design, skeletons, family tables, interface control via publish geometry, large-assembly performance discipline)
- Strong working knowledge of Windchill release workflows and configuration control best practices
- Deep experience applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and translating intent into inspectable drawings
- Proven ability to design for manufacturability across common aerospace processes (machining, sheet metal, additive where appropriate, bonding, inserts/Heli-Coils, surface finishes)
- High ownership: you don’t just “model parts”—you drive closure through release, build, and test
- Work location within the Washington DC / Maryland / Virginia (DMV) area

Nice-to-Have Experience

- Spacecraft or launch vehicle flight hardware design experience
- Direct experience supporting AIT on the floor (MRB disposition support, as-built capture, redline control)
- Familiarity with contamination control, torque practices, workmanship standards, and aerospace fastener conventions
- Experience with mechanism packaging and clearance validation

## What You’ll Get

- Ownership – Be the design authority driving configuration quality on flight builds
- Innovation – Turn complex spacecraft packaging and design challenges into producible, testable flight hardware that pushes the boundaries of spacecraft design and enables faster iteration from concept to orbit
- Impact – Your CAD decisions will ship to orbit
- Growth – Lead design execution standards across spacecraft programs
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity participation.

Location: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA

Base Salary: $125,000 - $175,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.

## About Quantum Space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Quantum Space is building the next generation of advanced, maneuverable spacecraft (the Ranger platform) to disrupt the orbital economy by reducing the cost of operating across every orbit the nation needs to hold, from LEO through GEO and out to cislunar space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (going public via merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI; anticipated ticker QSPC)
- **Headquarters**: Rockville, Maryland, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (Executive Chairman & Co-founder), Ben Reed (Chief Technology Officer), Adarsh Parekh (President & Co-founder), Kerry Wisnosky (Co-founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Defense and Space Manufacturing, National Security Space, Cislunar Infrastructure
- **Target customers**: Primarily Government (U.S. national security space agencies, Space Force, NASA, DARPA)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To enable the freedom to maneuver in space for the United States, providing a maneuver-first architecture engineered for multi-orbit operations at scale.

## Products & Services
- **Ranger Spacecraft Platform**: A highly maneuverable orbital transfer and servicing platform. Key specs include up to 4,000+ kg of storable hydrazine, multi-mode propulsion, a 15-year operational life, on-orbit refueling capability, and a modular payload architecture. It is designed to reach GEO and beyond at up to 70% lower cost than conventional architectures.
- **Space Domain Awareness**: Providing ubiquitous awareness of activities on orbit, delivering actionable intelligence.
- **Payload Hosting & Data Services**: A standardized platform capable of being configured for any mission at any orbit, hosting government and commercial payloads.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed for the private company; the SPAC merger agreement values the combined entity, but specific valuation is not publicly available.
- **Key Metric**: $88M+ in secured government contracts. Total funding of $56.1M across 6 prior funding rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI (SPAC merger partner); Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (also founded Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR), X-energy (NASDAQ: XE), Axiom Space); Jim Bridenstine (CEO, former NASA Administrator).
- **Growth Signals**: Aggressive hiring with 31 active job postings and +158.3% monthly job posting growth; acquired Phase Four's multi-mode propulsion assets in September 2025; constructing a manufacturing facility at Tulsa International Airport; awarded a DARPA LASSO contract; going public via SPAC merger.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Massive Fuel Capacity & Maneuverability**: 4,000+ kg of storable fuel is significantly more than current spacecraft, and the multi-mode propulsion allows for speed, efficiency, and flexibility across all orbits.
- **Refuelable & Modular Architecture**: Designed for on-orbit refueling and a modular payload system, enabling long-duration missions (15 years) and rapid reconfiguration.
- **Deep IP Moat**: 17 issued and pending patents protecting the core technology.
- **Cost Disruption**: Claims up to 70% cost reduction for operations beyond LEO and up to 10x+ launch cost savings compared to conventional architectures.
- **National Security Focus**: Deeply embedded with U.S. Space Command and national security priorities, with leadership that includes former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and a 40-year Missile Defense Agency veteran.

## Strategic Focus
- **Golden Dome / National Security**: The company's Ranger spacecraft is positioned as a key platform for the proposed "Golden Dome" national security space architecture.
- **SPAC Merger & Public Listing**: Completing the merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI to go public under the ticker QSPC.
- **Manufacturing Expansion**: Building out manufacturing capacity in Tulsa, OK, and Huntsville, AL, to scale production of the Ranger platform.
- **Cislunar Operations**: Developing capabilities for operations in cislunar space, including winning the DARPA LASSO contract.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven**: The company is focused on a critical national security mission, offering employees a chance to work on technology that directly impacts U.S. space superiority.
- **High Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly scaling from a startup to a public company, with aggressive hiring, new facility construction, and major government contracts.
- **Flexible Work Environment**: The company emphasizes work-life balance and offers flexible working arrangements. Roles are available across multiple locations (Rockville, MD; Huntsville, AL; Hawthorne, CA; Tulsa, OK).
- **Competitive Compensation**: Offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, generous leave (including parental leave), FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.
- **Tight-Knit Team**: Described as a fast-paced, tight-knit team of engineers and scientists, offering exposure to the full lifecycle of mission development, launch, and operations.

## Sources
1. [quantumspace.us](https://www.quantumspace.us/)
2. [quantumspace.us/about](https://www.quantumspace.us/about)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantumspace-us)
4. [investors.quantumspace.us](https://investors.quantumspace.us/)
5. [Greenhouse Careers Page](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quantumspacellc/jobs/4193183009)

## Other roles at Quantum Space

- [Accounting Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/accounting-manager-quantum-space-rockville-am48bcdwcm6x) — Rockville, MD
- [Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) / GRC Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/information-systems-security-officer-isso-grc-analyst-quantum-space-rockville-wyz4v99ynpdh) — Rockville, MD
- [Test Conductor](https://feeny.ai/job/test-conductor-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-ca-or-denver-0fn7yejg76wk) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne CA OR Denver, CO
- [Senior FP&A / Program Controller](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-fp-a-program-controller-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-aebq0ng5bhdb) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Reliability Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/reliability-engineer-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-hf6wn74hcyrs) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer-quantum-space-qa1t3bxv3k77) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer-quantum-space-rockville-zm632f2k9vyt) — Rockville, MD
- [Capture Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/capture-manager-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-602yj3s3rbr4) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Electrical Engineer III / IV – Spacecraft Programs](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-iii-iv-spacecraft-programs-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-gjnwg5k40ph6) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne CA OR Denver, CO
- [Information Systems Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/information-systems-administrator-quantum-space-hawthorne-f46deq22m7wd) — Hawthorne, CA