Systems / Mechanical Engineer with Program Management

A pioneering deep-space resource extraction company is developing the technology and mission architecture to mine helium-3 from the lunar surface and return it to Earth for use in fusion energy and quantum computing applications. This is foundational work at one of the most consequential intersections of space exploration, clean energy, and advanced computing — and the team is building the engineering foundation to make it commercially viable.

This company is hiring its technical program lead: a rare individual who combines deep engineering discipline (mechanical or systems) with demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary programs and leading technical teams. This is not a pure individual contributor role, nor is it a purely managerial one. The right candidate will bring hands-on technical credibility and the organizational ability to drive a program from concept through execution in an early-stage, high-ambiguity environment.

The search is deliberately selective. The company is building something that has never been done before, and it requires an engineer who has worked at the frontier of their field, knows how to lead people under pressure, and is motivated by a mission that matters beyond the next product cycle.

There are two candidate profiles that will be considered for this role:

•      A degreed mechanical engineer with meaningful aerospace or space systems experience

•      Has held a formal program or project management role — not just technical lead, but accountable for schedule, cost, scope, and team performance

•      Has managed engineers or cross-functional technical staff directly

•      Understands how mechanical systems intersect with thermal, structures, propulsion, and mission design in a space context

•      Has worked on hardware that has been built, tested, or operated in a demanding environment — ideally flight or flight-like

•      Holds formal training in systems engineering methodology (INCOSE, model-based SE, or equivalent)

•      Has led or contributed at the systems architecture level on a complex aerospace or defense program

•      Has managed projects and people — not just requirements documents

•      Understands requirements decomposition, interface management, V&V planning, and system-level trade studies at a practical level

•      Brings the discipline to hold a system together across subsystems and stakeholders simultaneously

In both cases, a master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline is a meaningful advantage and will be weighted accordingly in the evaluation.

•      Serve as a senior technical and programmatic lead responsible for driving the development of core mission systems and subsystems

•      Own or contribute to program planning, milestone tracking, resource management, and cross-functional coordination

•      Lead a small but growing team of engineers, setting technical direction and maintaining accountability for deliverables

•      Engage directly in hands-on technical work — architecture, analysis, design review, trade studies — at a depth appropriate to a senior individual contributor

•      Interface with external partners, vendors, and subject matter experts as the program requires

•      Contribute to the development of processes, tools, and workflows that scale as the organization grows

•      Operate effectively in an environment with significant ambiguity, limited precedent, and high stakes

•      Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related technical discipline

•      Significant experience in aerospace, defense, or space systems — with a strong preference for candidates who have worked on flight or mission-critical hardware

•      Demonstrated experience in program or project management, including direct responsibility for schedule, technical performance, and team output

•      Experience managing engineers or technical personnel — hiring, directing, and developing people

•      Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical and programmatic status to a leadership audience

•      Comfort operating independently in an early-stage environment where structure must sometimes be created rather than followed

This is a full time role

Rate starts at $15/hr

100% Remote

•      Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a related field

•      Formal systems engineering training or certification (INCOSE CSEP, MBSE, or equivalent)

•      Experience with space resource utilization, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), planetary science, or lunar mission architecture

•      Exposure to fusion energy, cryogenic systems, or quantum computing hardware (any of these is notable, not all are expected)

•      Prior experience at an aerospace startup, NewSpace company, or early-stage deep-tech organization