Stratolaunch
Aerospace & DefenseDirect Greenhouse career site

Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead

Location
Mojave, CA · On-site
Job type
Full-time
Level
Lead / Staff
Experience
5+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree
Listed
30 days ago

Skills & highlights for this role

  • Security clearance
  • 3D CAD
  • Solidworks or NX
  • structural analysis (FEMAP, Ansys)
  • configuration management (Jira)

Also useful

  • Team Center
  • Jama
  • DOORS

Essential Responsibilities

  • Work across many teams and subsystems to define interface and integration requirements
  • Perform the design and analysis, as necessary, of mechanical and avionics packaging of customer payloads
  • Perform structural and thermal analysis of mechanical components and/or assemblies including experimental OML changes to the hypersonic airframe.
  • Create, organize, and manage 3D CAD sub models and master models for Talon-A payloads
  • Spec and order hardware, as required, to fabricate your designs
  • Deconflict hardware interface issues between teams by raising and helping correct issues quickly
  • Support fabricators and mechanics in building and integrating all components and assemblies onto the vehicle
  • Report to and support Talon-A Payload Integration Lead
  • Mentor junior Mechanical Payload Engineers to instill best practices for design and analysis approaches.
  • Make suggestions and recommendations for improvements, including changes to workflow.
  • Support technical customer reviews and ensure contract deliverables are on time and meet or exceed customer requirements
  • Provide technical support for payload proposals and contract negotiations
  • Travel, as needed, to support the company
  • Demonstrate honesty, responsibility, integrity and fulfillment of commitments

Required Qualifications

  • Proficient with 3D CAD modeling, assembly management, and PDM
  • Ability to communicate technical challenges and guidance to varied audiences to gain support or resolve concerns
  • Ability to work on their own initiative and prioritize tasking to fit within the business goals
  • Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
  • Excellent written & verbal communication
  • Ability to acquire and maintain a security clearance

Required Skills

  • Experience with Solidworks or NX (both preferred)
  • Experience with structural analysis methods (hand calcs, FEMAP, Ansys, etc.)
  • MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook)
  • Familiarity with configuration management systems such as Jira
  • Familiarity with requirement management systems such as Jama, Cameo, DOORS, etc.
  • Design team leadership and project management.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working in small, dynamic engineering teams where each member often has multiple responsibilities
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance

Preferred Skills

  • Experience with NX and Team Center
  • Experience with configuration management systems such as Jira
  • Experience with requirement management systems such as Jama, Cameo, DOORS, etc.

Education & Experience

  • Sr Level ($): Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 5-10 years of engineering experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Staff Level ($) Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from accredited institution and 10-20 years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Special remarks regarding work environment, if applicable

  • This position is located in Mojave, CA (consideration for hybrid work arrangement with at least 75% on-site time for well-qualified candidates)
  • Travel estimated to be #LI-onsite

#LI-EM1

Pay and benefits

Base salary and leveling are established on a case-by-case basis. We consider several factors to ensure a competitive offer, including your location, educational background, and a comprehensive assessment of the skills and experience demonstrated during your interviews.

Benefits and our location(s)

  • Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs)
  • Paid Maternity and Parental Leave
  • 50% company match per contributed dollar into 401(k) savings plan, up to $11,500
  • Tuition reimbursement

This position may involve the operation of company vehicles as part of assigned duties.:

Mojave Air & Spaceport is located just outside of Lancaster/Palmdale and is only 95 miles north of Los Angeles. The area offers both affordability and central access to a variety of California's best attractions and landmarks.

Not much for the outdoors and prefer the city life? You're within a half day's drive or less of Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and San Francisco where you can find a variety of live entertainment, museums, tours, and historical sight-seeing. Theme parks are in abundance, with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disneyland, and Knotts Berry Farm ready to meet the needs of rollercoaster thrill seekers.

  • Food and drink fanatics are in a haven of delectable choices.
  • Wine aficionados will also find easy access to some of the state's best vino in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and even more locally in Tehachapi and Agua Dulce.
  • Beer fanatics will find some of the best West Coast IPAs at Bravery and Lucky Luke's in Lancaster.
  • Any food option you crave is covered, and we always recommend the authentic and fresh Mexican food that you won't find anywhere else in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law:

About Stratolaunch

Stratolaunch is a technology accelerator that engineers operationally realistic testing at Mach 5+. Our air-launched, Talon testbeds are reusable, cost-effective platforms that enable routine access to the hypersonic environment. We deliver flight data critical to validating system performance and achieving rapid technology deployment. Together with our customers, we drive innovations that are imperative to advancing national security.

Stratolaunch is seeking a Senior or Staff-level Mechanical or Structural Engineer to lead the Talon mechanical interface design and build, for integration of experimental customer payloads on the Talon-A hypersonic vehicles. This position involves working with a multi-disciplinary engineering team, program management, and customers. While this role is primarily mechanical integration focused, an ideal candidate will also have experience with high temperature material properties, system integration and avionics packaging.

Read the original posting

From Stratolaunch's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

How Rolev.ai helps with this application

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Common questions

Where is the Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead job at Stratolaunch located?

This Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead position at Stratolaunch is located in Mojave, CA (On-site). Always check Stratolaunch's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

What qualifications are required for Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead at Stratolaunch?

For the Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead role, Stratolaunch highlights 5+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with 3D CAD, Solidworks or NX, structural analysis (FEMAP, Ansys), configuration management (Jira). Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.

How do I apply for the Payload Mechanical Engineer Lead position at Stratolaunch?

This listing links directly to Stratolaunch's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Stratolaunch's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.