Mechanical Engineer

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry. Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us. This is a new organization within Stoke, with a goal to develop products on a 3–10 year horizon that grow Stoke beyond launch. Nova moves mass to orbit. This group takes on what comes next: spacecraft and on-orbit mobility that move mass to any orbit, downmass that returns it to Earth, and the satellites, platforms and factories that put mass to work once it is there. The organization is small by design, and everyone here carries a second hat. Description We are looking for a Mechanical Engineer with rock-solid fundamentals and a bias for action to join a new organization at Stoke as one of its first hands-on engineers. You will own spacecraft hardware from blank sheet through flight: structures, mechanisms, propellant and fluid component packaging, avionics packaging, thermal hardware and the interfaces to Nova. The team is small, so you will work across disciplines, carry more than one hat, and be expected to figure out solutions on the fly. If you want to see hardware you designed operate in orbit, this role is for you. Responsibilities • Own mechanical and structural hardware from concept through flight operations. • Design and analyze spacecraft primary and secondary structures, mechanisms, fluid and avionics component packaging, and launch-vehicle interface hardware. • Perform structural and thermal analysis using hand calculations and FEA, choosing the right tool for the problem at hand. • Write margin summaries; develop loads and load cases for launch, deployment and on-orbit environments. • Create CAD models and manufacturing drawings with proper GD&T. • Work directly with machinists, welders and technicians to build and test your hardware. • Procure parts, manage suppliers, and keep your hardware on schedule and on budget. • Troubleshoot failures, disposition non-conformances, and drive root cause corrective action. • Test and improve your hardware: vibration, thermal, thermal-vacuum, structural, pressure. • Support design reviews and communicate technical decisions clearly. • Continuously improve designs to reduce cost, increase reliability, and improve manufacturability. Minimum qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. • 2+ years of hands-on engineering experience designing, building and testing hardware (internships and major university projects count). • Exceptional command of mechanical engineering fundamentals (statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, heat transfer, fluid mechanics). • Proficiency with 3D CAD (NX preferred) and creating detailed manufacturing drawings. • Working knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5. • Experience with structural analysis, both hand calculations and FEA. • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (machining, sheet metal, welding, additive manufacturing). • Proven ability to take ownership, work independently, and deliver results. • Strong communication skills; you can explain complex problems simply. Preferred qualifications • Experience with NX and ANSYS or similar tools. • Spacecraft or launch vehicle hardware background, including designing for launch loads, deployment, thermal cycling, vibration, shock and vacuum. • Experience with mechanisms, deployables or separation systems. • Experience with thermal control hardware (radiators, heaters, MLI, heat pipes) or propellant tank and fluid line packaging. • Hands-on experience with test campaigns: test plans, instrumentation, running tests, analyzing data. • Exposure to avionics integration, harness routing or electronics packaging. • Experience in fast-paced startup or rapid development environments. Benefits • Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees. • Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance • Company-paid life and disability insurance • 401(k) plan with employer match • 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off • Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure) • Paid Family/Parental Leave • On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location) • Dog friendly offices! Compensation Target Levels: • Level 2 Range: $109,725 - $148,470 • Level 3 Range: $129,150 - $193,620 Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis. Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level. ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Equal Opportunity The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring. Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically. Separate from this I-9 process, as noted above, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job. Candidate Rights & Accommodations If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact careers@stokespace.com. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request. For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here. E-Verify Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires. For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.