Mechanical Engineer

Hawthorne - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Company: Reflect Orbital

Position Title: Mechanical Engineer

Location: Hawthorne CA (Greater Los Angeles Area)

Position Type: Full-Time (Permanent)

Work Policy: In-office only (Relocation assistance available: $5000 $10000)

Visa Sponsorship: Reflect Orbital will sponsor new H1 visas for all roles

Equity: Offered (TBD shares)

Company Overview:

Reflect Orbital is building a constellation of orbital reflectors that beam sunlight back to Earth after dark-extending solar power production into nighttime. Backed by Sequoia (its first space tech investment since SpaceX) the company is launching its first spacecraft in 2026. Reflect Orbital is a fast-moving team of 20 engineers led by a former SpaceX hardware leader now hiring standout builders to help shape the future of energy.

Role Summary

As a Mechanical Engineer at Reflect youll own spacecraft hardware from clean-sheet to launch. Youll prototype iterate and qualify critical spacecraft subcomponents prioritizing real-world performance simplicity and mechanical elegance. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive under pressure embrace scrappiness and consistently deliver under tight timelines.

Responsibilities

Deliver spaceflight-ready mechanical systems from concept through orbit
Own spacecraft subassemblies and mechanisms from design to flight
Conduct reliability analysis for space environments
Collaborate across engineering teams to ensure seamless system integration
Take initiative on design build and test cycles-rapidly moving from idea to prototype

Must-Have Qualifications:

Extensive CAD experience (e.g. SolidWorks NX Fusion 360)
Owned spacecraft components from clean-sheet design to launch
Strong knowledge of bolted joint mechanics tolerancing and GD&T
Familiarity with manufacturing capabilities and constraints
Experience designing complex mechanical systems with interdependencies
Ability to balance analytical rigor with fast prototyping
Proven experience in high-accountability engineering environments

Preferred Qualifications:

Degree in Mechanical Aerospace Manufacturing Industrial or Electrical Engineering
Background at SpaceX Blue Origin NASA contractors (JPL APL) Lockheed Martin Northrop Ball Aerospace
Experience at adjacent companies: Tesla Rivian Honeybee Robotics Rocket Lab Anduril Skydio
Formula 1 engineers (UK)
Former founders wild builders or hyper-performing generalists
Experience in satellite systems deployables reflectors or custom aerospace mechanisms

Who They Will Not Hire

Candidates with standard but unremarkable paths (e.g. good school average engineer)
Engineers with no standout projects or record of ambition/obsession
Candidates without a clear wait what! factor

Insider Scoop

Formula 1 engineers in the UK are rarely poached by U.S. companies-this is a unique talent pool.
The founder has strong SpaceX ties making it a key source of candidates.
Additional target industries: satellite aerospace automotive medical devices.
Relevant companies include SpaceX Blue Origin Northrop Grumman Lockheed Martin Ball Aerospace Maxar Raytheon L3Harris Planet Labs Rocket Lab Sierra Space Honeybee Robotics Tyvak and automotive/defense firms.

Mandatory Submission Questions

Any standout wait what! factor (e.g. Olympian youngest team lead at Tesla viral project creator)
Portfolio Personal website or technical project repo (GitHub site demo link)

Perks and Benefits:

Full coverage of medical dental and vision plans
HSA FSA 401K commuter benefits
Unlimited PTO (mandatory 2 weeks off/year)
Daily catered lunch

Interview Process

Intro Chat (10 min): With CTO Chief Architect or CEO; focused on top accomplishments
Portfolio Presentation: Deep dive into one high-impact impressive project
Final Onsite (5 hrs): Team 1:1s technical brainstorm cultural fit
Goal: Whoa thats impressive moment

Company: Reflect Orbital Position Title: Mechanical Engineer Location: Hawthorne CA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Position Type: Full-Time (Permanent) Work Policy: In-office only (Relocation assistance available: $5000 $10000) Visa Sponsorship: Reflect Orbital will sponsor new H1 visas for all r...