Mechanical Engineer

Location

Burlingame, CA

Full time

On-site

Engineering Mechanical

• $120K – $160K
  • Offers Equity

The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to help design, build, and commission the mechanical infrastructure that enables environmental testing and integration of spacecraft hardware. This role is ideal for an engineer with several years of hands‑on mechanical design and test experience who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and enjoys taking projects from concept through build and execution.

You will design and deliver mechanical fixtures, test setups, and ground support equipment (GSE) that support vibration testing, thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing, spacecraft handling, and hardware development. You’ll work directly with senior mechanical engineers, test engineers, vendors, and shops to turn requirements into functional hardware.

This is a high‑ownership, fast-moving role with significant responsibility for delivering hardware on schedule, writing clear documentation, and supporting hands‑on test operations. Candidates must be comfortable working in a dynamic startup environment, anticipating next steps, and driving projects forward without constant direction.

As opportunities arise, you’ll also contribute to select spacecraft flight hardware designs.

• Fixture & GSE Design
  • Design, model, and release mechanical fixtures, jigs, mass simulators, lifting/handling equipment, and GSE for spacecraft-level testing and operations.
  • Generate complete part and assembly drawings with appropriate tolerances, fastener selections, and hardware specifications.
  • Own procurement: interface with vendors, review manufacturability, negotiate technical details, and drive modifications when required.
  • Manage design through full lifecycle: concept → CAD → drawing release → procurement → assembly → test‑readiness.
• Environmental Test Support
  • Support setup and execution of spacecraft vibration and thermal vacuum (TVAC) tests.
  • Prepare hardware for testing: instrumentation, torqueing, alignment, inspection, and configuration tracking.
  • Assist with test data collection, anomaly troubleshooting, and fixture debugging during test campaigns.
• Documentation & Process Development
  • Write detailed reports, procedures, build instructions, safety assessments, and test documentation for internal and external reviews.
  • Support development and maintenance of mechanical design workflows, drawing standards, PDM organization, and release processes.
• Cross‑Functional Engineering
  • Collaborate with mechanical, thermal, electrical, systems, and test engineers to translate test and GSE requirements into mechanical designs.
  • Conceptualize design options in group settings, evaluate trades, and drive designs to closure with clear communication of risks, issues, and proposed solutions.
  • Communicate progress, challenges, and timelines proactively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Facility & Infrastructure Support
  • Contribute to building out lab/shop infrastructure including benches, tooling, torque measurement setups, fixture organization, and controlled storage.

• Required
  • BS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
  • 3–5 years of professional mechanical design or mechanical test engineering experience (exceptional candidates with less experience but strong competence encouraged to apply).
  • Strong…