Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Space

About the Role

As a Mechanical Design Engineer in the Mission Engineering team, you will primarily own hardware associated with nuclear power systems in space and on the surface of the Moon and Mars. As the Responsible Engineer (RE) on space you will take hardware from clean sheet design to build, dev test, qualification, and integration. You will be responsible for the entire life cycle of your hardware and system, interfaces to and from other systems, how your hardware fits into the larger system, sourcing, building, testing, and designing improvements for a first‑of‑a‑kind system.

You’ll drive trades on system layout, interfaces, packaging, working closely with cross‑disciplinary teams to refine configurations and close design loops. Your responsibilities will span CAD design, system analysis, leading design reviews, precise definition of thermal and mechanical interfaces, requirements ownership and decomposition, and manufacturability / scalability of your design.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Own a subsystem and related hardware as part of the larger space nuclear system.
• Drive system‑level layout, requirements definition/decomposition, build/test cycles, defend decisions across all phases of design, take concept through CDR and onward.
• Own CAD models, manage configurations, produce drawings, DFMEA, etc.
• Drive cross‑discipline alignment and trade studies.
• Coordinate closely with other teams/people (nuclear, thermal, structures, manufacturing, quality) to ensure a system architecture that satisfies mission/product requirements.
• Develop a clean sheet design through hardware procurement and dev/qual testing.
• Support design reviews and integration/test planning for hardware, define manufacturing plan and generate work instructions as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related physics‑based field.
• 3+ years of experience in space system/product mechanical design, system configuration and layout.
• Expertise with CAD (e.g., NX, CATIA) and past experience with PLM and other manufacturing planning and management systems.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Master’s or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related physics‑based field.
• Expertise in the design, analysis, and integration of nuclear or space nuclear systems.
• Leadership experience on a project or research team.
• Strong project management skills, cross‑discipline communication, and interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Exceptional communication skills to work effectively across teams and convey technical information to non-specialists.
• Understanding of fundamental principles in fluid systems and solid mechanics.
• Demonstrated track record of initiative and high impact / ROI contributions.
• Broad knowledge of materials science and material selections, especially for nuclear applications.
• Ability to conduct complex design trades, system sizing, and first‑order engineering analyses while clearly identifying analysis limitations and associated design risks.
• Very strong design skills and GD&T/ drawings experience; take a design into production.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones.
• Willingness and ability to obtain and retain a security clearance.

Location

We are located in Torrance, CA in a 322,000 square foot, brand new facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high growth startups and enterprises.

Equal Opportunity

Antares is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Compensation

$140K – $185K • Offers Equity

As a growing Series B startup, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual, taking into consideration: years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.

In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is posted.

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