Nyx Crew Vehicle Design Principal

The role

The Vehicle Design Principal will lead the mechanical design development of next-generation space vehicles for crewed spaceflight. This role involves driving vehicle architecture, managing technical risks, and leading a multidisciplinary mechanical team from concept through flight readiness.

What you will do

• Lead creation and development of detailed CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings.
• Develop overall system layout and manage complex, large assemblies.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, human-rating requirements, and quality processes.
• Establish vehicle design, layout, and structural elements.
• Conduct trade studies, mechanical simulation, and analytical assessments.
• Perform preliminary mechanical analysis including sizing and structural FEA.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee development activities to achieve technical, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Lead development and qualification including verification, validation, certification, and flight-readiness.
• Manage Product Lifecycle Management workflows, Bill of Materials, and Interface Control Documents.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary mechanical team.

Required qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Design, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Technology, or similar related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience.
• System mindset with a proven capability of understanding and managing complex systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and testing space systems, vehicles, or component/subsystems.
• Experience with CAD and lifecycle management tools.
• Experience with finite element analysis software.
• U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (e.g., current Green Card holders).

Nice to have

• Relevant advanced degrees will be considered in lieu of equivalent experience.
• Direct experience in structure design and analysis, manufacturing, integration and test.
• Experience designing structural components.
• Incorporating plumbing and/or electrical harness routing in 3D.
• Understanding of environmental testing, such as vibration, shock, acoustic, and/or thermal vacuum (TVAC).
• Experience working with external customers such as commercial companies and government agencies (NASA, AFRL, DARPA, etc.).

Benefits

• Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.

Before you apply

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
• All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

About the company

The Exploration Company is building spacecraft for humanity.