Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

Agile Space Industries is a rapidly growing supplier of propulsion hardware and engineering services for the space industry. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, with expanding operations in and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and upcoming growth in Seattle, Washington, Agile has achieved more than 40% year-over-year growth for the past three years, and our momentum continues to accelerate.

At Agile, we design, build, and test in-space propulsion systems that give spacecraft the ability to maneuver with precision, reliability, and purpose. Our technologies play a critical role in missions that range from lunar landings and resource utilization to national defense, human exploration, and commercial space transport.

We are seeking bold and driven individuals who thrive in a hands-on, fast-moving environment and want to help write the next chapter of space history as part of a close-knit, innovative team. You will take on a demanding and rewarding role at Agile, directly shaping the future of in-space propulsion. As an integral contributor during our growth stage, you will be eligible to participate in our stock option plan, giving you the opportunity to share in the long-term value you help create. All stock grants are subject to executive review and approval in accordance with the Company’s equity plan.

Agile Space Industries is seeking a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer in beautiful Durango, CO. The Mechanical Engineer will drive the architectural design and innovation of rocket engine components specifically for hypergolic propulsion systems. Responsibilities may include design of structures, assemblies, mechanisms, bearings, seals, pressure vessels, engine components, and fluid components as well as design for manufacturing, thermal and stress analysis, component, material, and process selection.

This role may be from Staff to Principal Engineering level and will be assessed as part of the candidate review process.

This role is designed for an individual contributor who has strategic vision and can lead enterprise-scale technical developments. The ideal candidate has executed many full-lifecycle development programs, designing mechanical systems in rocket engines (primary structure, chambers, injector layout, cooling systems, pumps, actuators, etc.). The candidate will have profound technical and strategic impact necessary to guide critical methods on active programs and across the company.

Responsibilities 

• Drive the design and development of complex in-space propulsion system components and piece parts, ensuring deep system-level understanding and integration across components and system elements.
• Design and develop components and assemblies for chemical rocket systems, including concept creation, hand calculation verification, CAD assembly design and management, BOM creation, drawing production, and collaboration with manufacturing and testing teams.
• Translate long-term technical strategies into actionable engineering requirements for significant features and projects.
• Take highly ambiguous propulsion challenges and distill them into pragmatic, high-quality mechanical solutions for the engineering team.
• Act as an advisor to engineering leadership, guiding high-stakes technical decisions and shaping the company’s engineering vision.
• Cultivate a world-class engineering culture of technical excellence and collaboration, mentoring all experience levels of engineering and cross-functional teams.
• Lead hardware through the entire "cradle-to-grave" process—from conceptual hand calcs and CAD assembly to vendor selection, assembly, and test execution and analysis.
• Identify and implement risk mitigation strategies throughout development activities.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between external customers, internal teams, subcontractors, and cross-functional groups.