---
title: 'Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-mechanical-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-3xasxaswm9zp'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-31'
---

# Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $220k–$270k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-10-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-31
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/96349dee-a130-4a74-b602-8977c5b87f4e

## 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 hardcore engineers who live and breathe aerospace. We’re generalists who each have subject matter expertise and operate in a flat organizational structure. We move fast and build world-changing technology in a pragmatic and competent workplace culture.

## WHO YOU ARE:

You’re a principal-level mechanical engineer who has led the design of complex hardware from a blank sheet to a fielded product, and you’ve built the judgment that comes from seeing designs succeed and fail in test. You set technical direction, make the hard architecture calls, and raise the bar for everyone around you, while staying close to the hardware yourself. You might come from aerospace, automotive, motorsport, energy, industrial turbomachinery, or another field where hardware runs at the edge of its limits. Propulsion experience is highly valued but not required. What matters most is a record of leading hard mechanical programs to success. At Astro Mechanica, you’ll be a technical leader on Duality™, our jet engine built to be efficient from takeoff through supersonic flight. You’ll own the mechanical architecture of major engine systems and guide them from early prototype through flight qualification, vehicle integration, and aircraft flight. You’ll set the test-like-you-fly standard for the team.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Own the mechanical architecture of major engine subsystems, defining requirements, interfaces, and design approach
- Lead trade studies that shape engine configuration, and make clear, defensible decisions when the data is incomplete
- Set design standards, analysis practices, and review rigor across the mechanical design team
- Lead design reviews and serve as the technical authority on mechanical design questions
- Mentor senior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, hands-on guidance, and day-to-day collaboration
- Work across propulsion, aircraft, test, and manufacturing teams to resolve system-level tradeoffs
- Stay hands-on in CAD, analysis, prototype builds, and testing when the work calls for it
- Lead root-cause investigations on hardware failures and drive corrective actions to closure
- Identify technical risks early and build the plans to retire them

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- 10+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, including technical leadership of complex hardware programs from concept through build and test
- A track record of owning the architecture of a major system or product, not just individual components
- Deep expertise in a major CAD package (Siemens NX preferred; we’ll support your transition from CATIA, Creo, or SolidWorks)
- Expert knowledge of manufacturing processes, including machining, additive, and sheet metal, along with precision measurement and GD&T
- A strong command of structural analysis, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics, with the judgment to know when analysis is good enough and when to go test
- Experience mentoring engineers and raising the technical bar of a team
- The ability to communicate complex technical tradeoffs clearly to engineers, leadership, and external stakeholders
- Comfort making decisions under uncertainty in a fast-moving environment

## NICE TO HAVE:

- Experience designing propulsion systems, such as gas turbines, rocket engines, or other turbomachinery
- Experience with high-temperature, high-speed rotating, or pressurized hardware
- Flight hardware design, qualification, or certification experience
- Familiarity with data acquisition, instrumentation, and test program design
- Exposure to electromechanical systems or power electronics integration
- Experience at an early-stage hardware company during rapid growth

## PERKS AND 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
- Company-funded perks, including weekly team lunches and Astro Mechanica swag

## 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)

## Other roles at Astro Mechanica

- [IT Helpdesk Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/it-helpdesk-manager-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-f4q6qmex1s2j) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-recruiter-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-bvcq1mx725kg) — San Francisco, CA
- [Environmental Health & Safety Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/environmental-health-safety-lead-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-78ws8am2tnep) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Ground Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-ground-software-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-0wrba5p47pfp) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Power Electronics Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-power-electronics-controls-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-ftkyqgjvfp6w) — San Francisco, CA
- [Propulsion Manufacturing Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-manufacturing-manager-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-a1ewekaab3dh) — San Francisco, CA
- [Mechanical Design Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-engineer-ii-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-hzj3qpxx1v6m) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-mmc4jt0zf81k) — San Francisco, CA
- [Propulsion Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/propulsion-technician-astro-mechanica-east-bay-area-k0ftkjnnnnwh) — East Bay Area
- [Senior Propulsion Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-propulsion-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-a7h2057y0k2e) — San Francisco, CA