Mechanical Engineer Los Angeles, California,

GITAI is a space robotics company working to reduce the cost of work in space by 100x. Satellites, space stations, lunar infrastructure, and defense systems are becoming more capable and ambitious, but getting hardware to space is just the first step. The harder problem is doing useful work once it is there. GITAI develops robotic systems for orbital, lunar, and defense applications, designing for tasks such as assembly, inspection, maintenance, construction, and surface operations in environments where human labor is expensive, dangerous, or impractical.

The Mechanical Engineer owns mechanical hardware from concept through test. You will take ambiguous hardware needs and turn them into detailed, buildable mechanical designs, then stay responsible as those designs become real parts, prototypes, integrated systems, and tested hardware. This role spans GITAI’s robotic and space systems, including robotic arms, rovers, spacecraft structures, propulsion‑related hardware, mechanisms, fixtures, and ground support equipment.

You will perform practical design calculations, evaluate loads, stiffness, strength, tolerances, manufacturability, and assembly constraints, and turn those decisions into CAD models, drawings, prototypes, and buildable hardware. You will support fabrication, assemble prototypes on the shop floor, integrate systems, troubleshoot failures, and take hardware to test sites, including desert and external facilities when needed.

• Create detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, drawings, and mechanical design packages that are practical to fabricate, assemble, inspect, test, and maintain.
• Work closely with electrical, software, propulsion, robotics, and systems engineers to define requirements, interfaces, load paths, packaging, assembly sequences, and test configurations.
• Move quickly from ambiguous requirements to workable mechanical concepts, then refine them into detailed designs ready for prototype fabrication or flight‑like builds.
• Support vendor and in‑house fabrication by reviewing manufacturability, resolving build issues, updating drawings, and maintaining clean mechanical documentation.
• Assemble, integrate, inspect, and maintain prototypes and early builds, and feed lessons from the shop floor and test floor back into the design.
• Plan and execute mechanical and system‑level testing, including operational verification, reliability testing, quality checks, and failure investigation, and use results to drive design improvements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• 1+ years of relevant experience designing, analyzing, and supporting the manufacturing of electro‑mechanical systems or mechanisms (internship, research, or extracurricular projects count).
• Proficiency with mechanical CAD and experience creating mechanical drawings and maintaining drawing packages.
• Hands‑on ability with mechanical assembly, integration, and testing.
• Must be able to safely lift and move items up to 40 pounds (with or without reasonable accommodation).
• Flexibility to work weekends as needed based on build and test schedules.
• Willingness to spend up to 50% of work time outside Torrance at test sites (including Mojave and the greater Los Angeles area); travel may increase for short periods during critical integration and test campaigns.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, as this role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance in the future.

• ENG‑1: $100,000 – $125,000 per year
• ENG‑2: $125,000 – $155,000 per year
• Final level and compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, interview performance, and role fit. This position is also eligible for equity.

• Health Insurance – Platinum medical plan with 100% company‑paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 90% for dependents.
• 401(k) Plan – Company match up to 3.5%, with traditional and Roth options.
• Equity – Stock option eligibility depending on role.
• Relocation Support – Available for qualifying positions.
• Time Off – 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days of paid vacation per year, and paid sick leave (in accordance with…