Cowboy Space
TCA Mechanical Design Engineer Level 1
$100K–$150K
Kent, Washington · On-site · Full-time · Posted Sep 21, 2026
- Experience
- 1+ years required; 2+ years with rocket engine TCA hardware preferred.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering; a Master's degree in an engineering discipline is preferred.
- Visa sponsorship
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
About the job
Designs, manufactures, and tests rocket engine thrust chamber assembly (TCA) hardware, owning components through flight qualification.
What you'll do
- Own TCA hardware lifecycle from requirements through manufacturing and flight qualification, including mechanical design and engineering documentation.
- Develop tooling and manufacturing processes, and work with shop-floor teams to support fabrication and production.
- Plan and execute hotfire tests, analyze results, and lead rapid redesigns.
What they ask for
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering.
- 1+ years of mechanical design experience for rocket engine or comparable high-performance hardware; internships, co-ops, and competition or research team experience count.
- Mechanical design proficiency emphasizing DFM/DFA and hands-on fabrication, assembly, or component manufacturing.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD, structural analysis tools, and engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards; strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and structural mechanics.
Nice to have
- 2+ years of rocket engine TCA hardware experience, including component lifecycle ownership through production.
- Hands-on CNC machining, welding/brazing, or additive manufacturing experience; DfAM experience is also preferred.
Pay
$100,000 – $150,000 annually (base salary)
Tools
NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, ASME Y14.5 GD&T, Ansys Mechanical, Fluent, Thermal Desktop
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative