Senior Mechanical Engineer - Space Hardware

This position requires access to export-controlled technology. Only U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

About IRPI

IRPI is pioneering the hardware that sustains life and enables exploration beyond Earth. Our team develops flight systems for spacecraft, habitats, and suits—covering everything from CO₂ removal and air revitalization to hydroponics, sample preparation, waste management, and fire safety. We design condensing heat exchangers, phase separation and filtration devices, propellant management systems, Lunar lander hardware, space station hardware, and advanced suit subsystems.

What sets IRPI apart is the way we unite research, mechanical design, and fluid/thermal engineering to deliver robust solutions that are rapidly prototyped, tested, and made flight-ready. We thrive on turning bold ideas into hardware that expands the boundaries of human presence in space.

Your Mission

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will own the development of advanced spaceflight hardware—from concept through qualification. You’ll take technical leadership on key projects, mentor early-career engineers, and collaborate directly with NASA and commercial partners to deliver systems that sustain human life beyond Earth.

Your immediate focus will be a novel additively manufactured condensing heat exchanger for low-gravity applications, while also contributing across IRPI’s portfolio of thermal and fluid systems. This role is ideal for an engineer with deep mechanical/thermal/fluid expertise who thrives in a hands-on, fast-paced environment and is ready to deliver hardware that will be integrated into spacecraft systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, analysis, and prototyping of technologies and subsystems for spacecraft and life-support applications.
• Own R&D or subsystem development across the full lifecycle: analysis, CAD, computation, prototyping, assembly, test, and qualification.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including test plans, design reviews, and compliance materials.
• Plan and execute validation campaigns, including instrumentation setup, data collection, and root-cause analysis.
• Interface directly with NASA program managers, commercial space operators, and suppliers, among others.
• Mentor and review the work of junior and mid-level engineers, setting high standards in design and testing.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposal, projects, and commercial development programs.
• Shape internal best practices for mechanical design, analysis, and testing of flight hardware.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (M.S. or PhD preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in aerospace, mechanical, or thermal/fluid hardware development.
• Strong foundation in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanics of materials.
• High Proficiency in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD.
• Demonstrated success leading design and test efforts for complex hardware.
• Experience with prototyping, shop tools, and lab test execution.
• Excellent technical communication skills (oral and written).

Preferred Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of professional experience, including direct subsystem ownership.
• Proficiency with FEA/CFD methods and scripting in MATLAB or Python.
• Experience with test instrumentation and data acquisition (LabVIEW or similar).
• Familiarity with a broad suite of manufacturing methods and materials
• Knowledge of aerospace qualification standards (NASA-STD-5001, MIL-STD-1540, etc.).
• Experience contributing to proposals, reports, and customer-facing presentations.

• Salary: $115,000 – $150,000 DOE

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical and dental insurance for employees and families
• Retirement: Employer contributions to help you build long-term security
• Time Off: Generous paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedule
• Family Support: Paid parental leave and flexibility to support work-life balance
• Performance Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities tied to company and individual success
• Professional Growth: Ownership of projects, mentorship opportunities, and direct collaboration with high profile customers.
• Mission-Driven Work: Develop flight systems that sustains human life beyond Earth.

How to Apply

Apply through our careers site. Be sure to answer all application questions fully and thoughtfully. Our hiring team reviews every application holistically and may also consider you for other positions that align with your skills and interests.

If you have a thesis, dissertation, or technical presentation (M.S. or Ph.D. work), please include it. A cover letter is optional but encouraged if it provides details not captured in your resume.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IRPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected category.