---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer, Fluid Systems at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-fluid-systems-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-jc06pr27y7qx'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-17'
---

# Mechanical Engineer, Fluid Systems at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $135k–$170k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-17
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/b5812615-f479-4727-ae96-3ea75532419a

## 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 YOU ARE:

Astro Mechanica is seeking a Mechanical Systems Engineer (Fluid Systems) to own the design, integration, and maturation of critical vehicle fluid systems. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with a passion for owning complex systems from the ground up. You thrive in fast-paced development environments, are comfortable making informed tradeoffs, and take pride in building systems that are robust, maintainable, and performant across the full flight envelope. Your work will directly enable propulsion, actuation, thermal management, and vehicle operability at extreme conditions. You will own one or more subsystems end-to-end, leading them from early concept through detailed design, qualification, and flight test.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Own the full lifecycle of one or more vehicle fluid systems, such as fuel, hydraulics, pneumatics, lubrication, or thermal management.
- Perform trade studies and first-order analyses (pressure drop, flow sizing, transient behavior, failure modes) to inform design and system architecture decisions.
- Design and integrate components including pumps, valves, accumulators, heat exchangers, plumbing, and sensors, ensuring functionality and manufacturability.
- Collaborate closely with propulsion, structures, avionics, controls, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless system integration.
- Work with suppliers to specify, select, and qualify off-the-shelf or custom components.
- Assist in developing test plans and participate in validation and verification activities, including component and system-level testing.
- Provide hands-on support during prototyping, vehicle builds, ground testing, and flight test campaigns.
- Lead technical reviews, generate clear documentation, and contribute to safety and hazard analyses.

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 2–5+ years of experience designing, integrating, or testing fluid or mechanical systems (internships and student projects count).
- Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical system fundamentals.
- Experience with system-level thinking: requirements flow-down, interfaces, failure modes, and operational considerations.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD tools (NX, CATIA V5, SolidWorks, or similar) for routing, packaging, and component design.
- Hands-on experience with hardware—plumbing, assembly, instrumentation, or testing.
- Clear communicator who works well across disciplines and can translate analysis into practical design decisions.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, evolving development environment.
- Willingness to travel to test sites and support field operations as needed.

## 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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