Mechanical Engineer, Interceptor

Who We Are GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions. At our core is the space robotics technology that has defined GITAI from the beginning. A small, highly capable engineering team applies that foundation across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for applications such as Earth observation. Today, a major focus of our work is supporting U.S. national security missions, particularly through proliferated LEO satellite constellations and other next-generation space systems. We design, build, integrate, and test much of our hardware in-house. Electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams work closely together, allowing a small team to own complete systems rather than isolated components. This vertical integration helps us move quickly, learn directly from hardware, and shorten the path from architecture to a working system. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. Requirements change, technical problems are often ambiguous, and many answers do not yet exist. We are looking for exceptional engineers who want broad ownership, can work across disciplines, and are willing to stay close to the hardware until the mission succeeds. Your Mission Design, build, and test the mechanical hardware that turns an interceptor concept into a working vehicle. You will own interceptor hardware from early mechanical layouts through detailed design, prototype manufacturing, assembly, field testing, failure investigation, and redesign. The scope includes vehicle structures, motor and propulsion interfaces, avionics packaging, internal mechanisms, test articles, fixtures, and ground-support equipment. This is not a propulsion-performance or analysis-heavy position. You will perform the calculations needed to support sound engineering decisions, but the main work is practical mechanical engineering. The hardware must be manufacturable, assemble correctly, survive its expected environment, and be ready for the next test. You will work closely with propulsion, avionics, electrical, manufacturing, test, and supply chain teams. You will also spend significant time at remote test sites. The work requires broad ownership, fast technical learning, and the ability to keep moving when the design, hardware, or test plan changes. What You’ll Drive Design and release mechanical hardware for interceptor vehicles, including primary and secondary structures, motor mounts and interfaces, avionics packaging, internal mechanisms, enclosures, test fixtures, and ground-support equipment. Translate system requirements, packaging constraints, expected loads, environmental conditions, and subsystem interfaces into manufacturable CAD models, drawings, bills of materials, and assembly definitions. Own the prototype build cycle by working directly with machinists, technicians, suppliers, and other engineers through fabrication, inspection, assembly, integration, fit checks, and rework. Prepare for and execute structural, environmental, propulsion-related, and vehicle-level tests, including test hardware, setup, field operations, teardown, inspection, and rapid repair. Investigate manufacturing, assembly, and test failures, identify likely root causes, and close the loop through practical design changes and the next hardware build. Make clear tradeoffs among mass, strength, stiffness, manufacturability, cost, schedule, testability, and reliability while maintaining appropriate configuration and design documentation. What We’re Looking For Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. At least one year of professional experience at a rocketry, missile, launch-vehicle, propulsion, or closely related aerospace company. Direct experience designing mechanical hardware that was manufactured, assembled, and tested, such as vehicle…