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Salary: USD 110,000 - 145,000 / annual
Fortastra designs and delivers resilient, high-performance autonomous spacecraft for national security space applications. The company integrates advanced autonomy, sensing, and control into systems engineered for reliability, speed, and scale, with a culture emphasizing simplicity, accountability, and disciplined execution.
You will join Fortastra's Engineering Division as a Mechanical Engineer II, supporting the design, integration, and build of autonomous spacecraft. This is a hands-on, generalist mechanical role for an early-career engineer seeking ownership across the full product lifecycle: from CAD and mechanical design through integration support on the floor.
Key responsibilities include:
- Contributing to spacecraft mechanical configuration, component layout, and system interfaces
- Creating and maintaining CAD models for parts and assemblies, including mounting hardware, brackets, panels, and structural elements
- Supporting evolution of the overall spacecraft CAD model by adding and updating subsystem hardware under senior engineer guidance
- Identifying and resolving mechanical interferences with harnessing, cabling, avionics boxes, sensors, and other subsystem hardware
- Generating and releasing detailed drawings, bills of materials, and mechanical documentation with disciplined revision control
- Collaborating with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and thermal engineers on integrated mechanical solutions
- Working with manufacturing and integration teams to ensure designs are fabricable, assemblable, and accessible for test and maintenance
- Supporting bring-up and integration activities on the floor, including fit checks, build support, and hardware rework
The ideal candidate has solid fundamentals in mechanical design and CAD, some experience taking hardware from concept to assembly, and is eager to grow into broader ownership. The role emphasizes high autonomy, direct impact, and ownership of systems end-to-end from architecture through testing and deployment.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field
- 2 to 5 years of experience in mechanical design for spacecraft, robotics, automotive, defense, or other high-reliability systems
- Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (NX, Creo, SolidWorks, or equivalent), including part and assembly modeling
- Understanding of basic structures, interfaces, packaging, and mechanical integration
- Experience creating engineering drawings, applying tolerances, and working with revision-controlled documentation
- Exposure to configuration management and large-assembly practices (preferred)
- Familiarity with fabrication methods such as machining, sheet metal, and simple welded or bolted assemblies
- Ability to work cross-functionally and take feedback from senior engineers and technicians
- U.S. Citizenship required
- 5 days on-site in Torrance, CA
