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CesiumAstro is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead the mechanical engineering organization and provide both people leadership and technical direction across multiple aerospace and space programs. This is a key role on the engineering leadership team, responsible for building and scaling a high-performing mechanical engineering team while driving strategic initiatives, supporting business growth, and influencing product roadmap decisions.
People Leadership & Team Development:
- Lead, mentor, and scale a team of mechanical engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Define team structure, roles, and responsibilities aligned with business objectives and program needs
- Set clear performance expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and conduct formal performance evaluations
- Drive employee engagement, retention, and career development initiatives
- Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit top engineering talent
- Promote an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance team environment
Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence:
- Serve as the mechanical engineering authority across multiple programs, ensuring technical excellence and consistency
- Lead mechanical architecture development, trade studies, and key design decisions aligned with product roadmaps
- Oversee system-level requirements definition, validation, and interface management
- Guide teams through the full development lifecycle: concept, design, analysis, manufacturing, integration, testing, and qualification for aerospace and space applications
- Provide technical oversight for high-risk or high-visibility programs, ensuring milestone success
- Lead and participate in internal and external design reviews, including presentations to customers and executive leadership
Process & Operations:
- Define, implement, and continuously improve mechanical engineering processes, including design standards, analysis methodologies, and verification/validation frameworks
- Establish and maintain technical documentation standards across programs
- Ensure effective allocation and prioritization of engineering resources
- Drive accountability for schedule, cost, quality, and technical performance
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management teams
- Interface with customers, suppliers, and partners to support program execution
- Contribute to product roadmap development through mechanical technology strategy and innovation
- Support proposal efforts, including technical solutioning, resource planning, and cost estimation
- Help shape long-term strategy for mechanical engineering capabilities and capacity
CesiumAstro develops advanced communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. The company operates in a dynamic, cross-functional environment emphasizing hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work.
Note: U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status is required to comply with U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 7–9 years of experience in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace or space systems
- Minimum 1–3 years of engineering management experience
- Deep expertise in mechanical design and analysis for aerospace/space applications
- Experience with electronics packaging at PCBA and system levels
- Strong understanding of structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis
- Knowledge of environmental testing and qualification standards for space hardware
- Familiarity with aerospace materials and manufacturing processes (CNC machining, composites, additive manufacturing)
- Understanding of system integration, AI&T, and launch constraints
- Proven ability to lead technical trade studies and make architecture-level decisions
- Experience developing and implementing engineering processes and best practices
- Proficiency with CAD and PDM tools (SolidWorks, SolidWorks PDM, or equivalent)
- Experience with simulation tools (ANSYS Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar FEA tools)
- Effective communication skills with ability to convey complex technical concepts
