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CesiumAstro is seeking an Associate Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers supporting the design and development of airborne, maritime, and ground-based phased array communication systems. The company develops cutting-edge active phased array antennas (AESA) for terrestrial and airborne applications, with current programs spanning high-power ground terminals for missile defense to commercial airline and helicopter connectivity solutions.
In this role, you will provide functional leadership for mechanical engineering teams, balancing hands-on technical contribution with people management. You will lead and develop engineers, foster a collaborative and innovative culture, and provide coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback. You will support staffing, hiring, onboarding, and resource allocation across multiple programs and internal R&D efforts.
Key responsibilities include partnering with program leadership to ensure mechanical engineering activities meet technical, cost, and schedule objectives; developing and implementing mechanical engineering processes, standards, and best practices; serving as a senior technical contributor for ruggedized electronics packaging and phased array antenna systems; and leading or supporting all phases of product development from concept through production transition. You will promote technical excellence through design reviews and mentorship, support proposal development and customer technical discussions, and foster cross-functional collaboration with electrical engineering, RF, manufacturing, quality, test, and supply chain teams.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience designing ruggedized electronics packaging and mechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or communications applications, enjoys mentoring engineers, and remains hands-on in production hardware development.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline from an accredited university
- 4–7 years of industry experience as an individual contributor in design and analysis of aerospace, defense, communications, or ruggedized electronics products
- 1+ year of previous leadership or management experience (technical lead, project lead, Responsible Engineer, IPT Lead, or people manager)
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate engineers while fostering collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Experience designing PCBA-level and system-level electronics packaging and mechanical systems for aerospace, defense, or communications
- Experience with complete product development lifecycle: concept, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, environmental qualification, production, and sustainment
- Proficiency with professional simulation tools (ANSYS Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation) and CAD/PDM systems (SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM)
- Experience designing for aerospace and defense manufacturing methods: CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, castings, bonded assemblies, additive manufacturing, electromechanical assemblies
- Experience supporting environmental qualification testing (MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, and other aerospace/defense standards)
- Working knowledge of industry standards: IPC, ASME, SAE, MIL-STD, RTCA DO-160, and related aerospace/defense specifications
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Ability to prioritize competing demands across multiple concurrent programs
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
- Experience with phased array antenna systems, RF electronics packaging, avionics, tactical communication systems, or defense electronics
- Experience supporting EMI/EMC, vibration, shock, temperature, humidity, ingress protection, and other environmental qualification campaigns
NOTE: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to comply with U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations.
