Momentus · 9 hours ago
Chief Engineer
San Jose, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$250K/yr - $300K/yr
15+ years expMomentus is at the forefront of the commercialization of space, providing in-space transportation and infrastructure services. The Chief Engineer will lead the design, analysis, development, integration, and launch of space vehicles, ensuring technical strategy and execution meet high standards of performance, reliability, and safety.
AerospaceSpace TravelTransportation
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
As the Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for managing the technical integrity and technical baseline for Momentus
Act as the independent technical authority for providing assessments of requirements, design, risks, and schedule with the Program Managers and product owners
Identify gaps between requirements, design, manufacturing, operations and facility solutions with project teams on practical solutions across the life cycle
Assess and disposition aggregate technical risks across programs and technology development projects
Assess and approve technical completion and compliance at major program and element technical reviews
You will provide engineering leadership and mentoring to coordinate design, analysis, and systems engineering processes throughout development, verification, delivery and operation
Provide independent review of corrective actions for major failures at the program/product level and work with functional managers in addressing systemic issues
Collaborate with program and company leadership to define and assess technology road-map alignment product needs and industry developments
Ensure that engineering and manufacturing processes are in place, adequate and utilized appropriately
Collaborate with other members to assess and implement engineering process health and compliance with standards for product / program. Represent the Company and project with key customers and partners
Focusing horizontally on resolving high-level Systems challenges
Ensuring execution of overall technical plan within the Integrated Master Schedule
Responsible for ensuring program technical excellence as commensurate with program scope, customer expectations and company interest
Through program gate reviews, oversee technical aspects of projects ensuring appropriate design, analysis and testing is conducted
Review designs for cost, manufacturing, and quality assurance
Provide customer facing technical leadership and guidance
Define and maintain system requirements for flight spacecraft hardware and software
Perform trade studies and analyses for spacecraft hardware selection
Support verification of system and subsystem requirements
Lead system design reviews and support program technical reviews
Manage spacecraft harnessing and interface design
Support regulatory and customer payload technical exchanges
Support AI&T planning and execution for flight spacecraft and subsystems
Create test plans and procedures to validate spacecraft and subsystem performance
Develop and maintain risk mitigation strategies
Support non-conformance and issue tracking for spacecraft hardware
Support on-orbit operations and flight anomaly resolution activities
Provide guidance, mentorship and leadership to all levels of engineers
Qualification
Required
Knowledge of Vehicle Product development designs including structures; guidance, navigation, software, propulsion, electronics/payloads, communications, materials, subsystems, and Integration and Testing
Knowledge in the development of high-fidelity aerospace vehicle control and dynamics, vehicle structural dynamics, and accuracy simulations and performance assessment (including propulsion, steering and control, and accuracy)
Strong oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated experience with high value customer presentations, with ability to focus on multiple projects with competing priorities
Ability to collaborate and achieve consensus when dealing with groups from diverse organizations and backgrounds
Experience integrating multiple engineering specialties and stakeholders across multiple Integrated Product Teams and Suppliers
Experience leading design, production, and integration of complex systems
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience
Strong understanding and broad application of complex engineering systems (engineering standards, configuration management, material review board, process control, tooling, facilities, software, etc.)
Demonstrated ability to make difficult technical decisions with good judgement
Demonstrated ability to work with multifunctional teams and drive to results
Design Engineering/Computer-aided Design (CAD) experience and engineering releases utilizing Product Lifecycle Management tools
Experience defining requirements and executing verification plans
Experience performing system level trade studies
Experience creating power, communications and mass budgets
Experience leading a technical team in system level reviews
Experience with spacecraft mission analysis, design, and AI&T
Ability to work independently
Excellent technical communications skills
Good written and verbal communication skills
BS, MS, and/or Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline
15+ years relevant experience in full life-cycle development of spacecraft
Preferred
Expert knowledge of Vehicle Product development designs including structures; guidance, navigation, software, propulsion, electronics/payloads, communications, materials, subsystems, and Integration and Testing
Expert knowledge in the development of high-fidelity aerospace vehicle control and dynamics, vehicle structural dynamics, and accuracy simulations and performance assessment (including propulsion, steering and control, and accuracy)
Subject Matter Expert (SME) experience and familiarity with high accuracy inertial measurement system modeling and performance; including calibration and alignment principles, Kalman filtering, and instrument error modeling
SME experience in subsystem and vehicle model maturation and validation using test and proven analytical methods
SME experience and knowledge in principles of MBSE (Model Based System Engineering)
Experience with industry program management processes including CCB, ERB, EVMS, and Risk Management
Previous experience working on DoD and other USG development and deployment programs
Ability to hold and maintain a USG Security Clearance
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401k retirement plan
Short and long term disability
Life insurance
Flexible PTO
11 paid holidays
Sick time
Paid parental leave
Company
Momentus
Momentus is a commercial space company providing satellite buses, in-space transportation, hosted payloads, and in-orbit services.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$182.12MKey Investors
J.J. Astor & Co.Space Infrastructures VenturesPrime Movers Lab
2026-01-05Post Ipo Equity· $5M
2025-10-14Post Ipo Equity· $7M
2025-06-30Post Ipo Equity· $4M
Leadership Team
Rob Schwarz
CTO
Eric Williams
CFO
Recent News
Benzinga.com
2026-01-13
2026-01-09
Company data provided by crunchbase