---
title: 'Senior Combustion Devices Engineer at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-combustion-devices-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-3ar14xz1tjgb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-05'
---

# Senior Combustion Devices Engineer at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $150k–$225k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-04-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/5af4ec01-174b-4e1f-a780-a4ac29b2f258

## Job description

## ABOUT US:

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government.

## 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:

You are a Senior Propulsion Engineer experienced in designing the combustion devices within propulsion systems. You come from a background working in ground power, aviation, automotive, or rocketry. You approach your work from a robust set of first principles which enable you to work methodically through challenging technical problems with feedback from test verification.

## WHAT YOU’LL DO:

- Lead conceptual trades for novel combustors while considering system-level impacts
- Complete detailed designs with supporting structural, thermal, and fluid analyses
- Implement advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to achieve performance and reliability at scale
- Assemble prototypes firsthand, design complementary tooling, and establish work instructions
- Conduct hardware test and analyze data to verify requirements and performance metrics
- Understand empirical trends and iterate quickly through component-level and integrated testing
- Diagnose hardware problems efficiently and determine corrective actions

## WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

- 5+ years hands-on experience designing combustion devices for use in propulsion or similarly complex environments
- Expertise in design and analysis of airbreathing combustors, igniters, and fuel systems
- Proficient in CAD solid body and surface modeling (Siemens NX), engineering drawings, and GD&T
- Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid behavior
- Hands-on prototype assembly and test stand experience
- Experience with data acquisition and instrumentation selection for analyzing stability and performance in elevated temperate environments
- Understanding and familiarity with high-temperature materials, coatings, and joining methods relevant to combustion
- Experience with root-cause analysis of hardware failures
- Takes initiative for continuous improvement (not just completing assigned tasks)
- Flexibility to work in fast-paced environment
- Attentive to detail and maintain a high level of quality in all work

## 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)

## Other roles at Astro Mechanica

- [Lead Composites Technician, Airframe Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-composites-technician-airframe-manufacturing-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-j5qgdpm77zan) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Tooling Design Engineer, Airframe Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-tooling-design-engineer-airframe-manufacturing-astro-mechanica-san-nrmp9x9pgzxv) — San Francisco, CA
- [Fabrication Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/fabrication-specialist-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-e685hsfk44p5) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Airframe Composites Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manufacturing-engineer-airframe-composites-manufacturing-astro-mechanica-frza3s9e983e) — San Francisco, CA
- [Aircraft Mechanic](https://feeny.ai/job/aircraft-mechanic-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-bdgzn73v45eh) — San Francisco, CA
- [Chief Engineer, Defense](https://feeny.ai/job/chief-engineer-defense-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-6q6segdxd0xm) — San Francisco, CA
- [PLM Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/plm-administrator-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-e5b4k5zvae07) — San Francisco, CA
- [Mechanical Systems Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-systems-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-b11dnng6dw56) — San Francisco, CA
- [Mechanical Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-integration-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-tnvpzgcbhjma) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Structures Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-structures-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-28ymm0wx6kw4) — San Francisco, CA