Director of Structures and Mechanisms

Responsibilities

• Build, grow, and lead the Structures & Mechanisms organization
• Serve as the final sign-off for the structural architecture of the vehicle
• Partner cross-functionally to resolve system-level trades
• Establish and enforce analysis standards across the team (FEA, hand calculations)
• Own the release process and quality bar for mechanical manufacturing drawings
• Coordinate with the production team on structural qualification campaigns
• Coordinate with production to establish strategic relationships with vendors
• Brief the CEO, board, and government partners on program status

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in design and analysis of complex aerospace structures
• 3+ years in a management or technical leadership role
• Proven track record leading structures on space vehicles or rockets
• Experience hiring, scaling, and mentoring engineering teams of 5+
• Expert-level fluency in Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or similar parametric modeling software
• Experience in structural analysis (FEA) and classical hand calculations
• Working knowledge of aerospace materials (aluminum, titanium, inconel, composites)
• Deep command of CNC machining, sheet metal, and welding

Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance
• Experience with deployable space structures (booms, solar arrays, antennas)
• Experience taking primary structure from concept through PDR/CDR to flight
• Experience designing for high-heat environments or Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)
• Deep knowledge of aerospace standards (NASA-STD-5000, SMC-S-016)
• Prior experience as a Director or Chief Engineer at a launch or satellite company

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $260,000–$290,000
• Annual performance-based bonuses
• Meaningful equity in Outpost
• Comprehensive healthcare (Medical, dental, vision)
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• Paid time off and 9 days of paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Daily DoorDash lunch stipend and unlimited snacks
• Pet-friendly office

About the Company

Outpost is building the missing infrastructure between orbit and Earth: reusable vehicles that bring payloads back from space and deliver them to a precise location within hours.