---
title: 'Senior Structures Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-structures-design-engineer-astro-mechanica-san-francisco-28ymm0wx6kw4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Senior Structures Design Engineer at Astro Mechanica

- **Company:** Astro Mechanica
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $160k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-09-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/astro-mechanica/0a89c9a7-0b06-4bce-9847-684abe578c90

## 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 seeking a Senior Structures Design Engineer to take ownership of major structural modules on our aircraft, from initial concept through flight hardware. You'll be responsible for making the technical decisions that determine how major portions of the aircraft are designed, built, and validated, balancing structural efficiency, manufacturability, test, schedule, and cost. You're comfortable working from first principles in an environment where requirements evolve quickly and there isn't always an established process to follow. You know when detailed analysis is required, when engineering judgment is sufficient. As a senior technical contributor, you'll mentor other engineers, raise the quality of engineering across the team, and help establish how we design aircraft.

## WHAT YOU'LL DO:

- Own the design and development of major aircraft structural modules, such as a wing or a fuselage section, from concept through production and flight test.
- Architect primary and secondary composite and metallic structures, making key decisions on load paths, joints, materials, structural arrangement, and manufacturing approach.
- Work closely with structural analysts to develop efficient, manufacturable designs using first-principles engineering and FEA to guide design decisions.
- Lead trade studies balancing weight, performance, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and technical risk.
- Drive structural configuration decisions across aerodynamics, propulsion, systems, manufacturing, and flight test.
- Produce CAD models, drawings, and engineering documentation.
- Support fabrication, assembly, ground testing, and flight test, rapidly incorporating lessons learned into improved designs.
- Mentor engineers through technical guidance, design reviews, and day-to-day collaboration.
- Help define engineering standards, design practices, and development processes as the organization grows.

## WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years designing aircraft structures, with ownership of significant flight hardware.
- Demonstrated experience taking structural designs from concept through release, manufacturing, and test.
- Strong understanding of metallic and composite structural design, structural load paths, manufacturing methods, and joining techniques.
- Expertise with Siemens NX or equivalent CAD software.
- Strong first-principles engineering skills, including structural sizing and hand calculations, with a working knowledge of FEA tools such as Femap/Nastran.
- Sound engineering judgment and the ability to make decisions with incomplete information and evolving requirements.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to drive technical decisions across multiple engineering disciplines.
- A track record of mentoring engineers while remaining a hands-on technical contributor.

## 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

## 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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