Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer

AscendArc is hiring a Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer . It pays $120k-$190k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on AscendArc.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this role Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
AscendArc mentions visa sponsorship in this posting.
Tools and skills the posting cites include Nx, Solidworks and FEA.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 11 other open roles at AscendArc.

AI in this role

Design, develop, and validate mechanical systems and structural components for commercial satellite communications.

NxSolidworksFEA

mechanical-engineeringstructural-analysiscadspacecraft-design

Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Mechanical team as a Senior Mechanical Engineer developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. This role offers the chance to combine hands-on engineering with in-depth structural analysis to ensure our spacecraft thrive in the extreme space environment. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it. AscendArc is a seed stage startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity. Responsibilities

Contribute to the design, development, and validation of spacecraft mechanical systems, including structures, mechanisms, and thermal hardware
Perform structural analysis using FEA to evaluate stiffness, strength, vibration modes, and margins of safety.
Collaborate with immediate and cross-functional teams to define mechanical interfaces and support system integration
Develop CAD models, detailed drawings, and documentation to support manufacturing, assembly, and testing
Support environmental and functional testing efforts (e.g., vibration, thermal, deployment), including test setup and data collection
Participate in design reviews and help identify and mitigate technical risks early in the development cycle
Assist in hands-on prototyping, hardware builds, and integration activities

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
5+ years of experience designing and testing complex mechanical systems in the aerospace industry
Proficient in 3D CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks) and engineering analysis tools (FEA, thermal, tolerance analysis)
Demonstrated experience with full product lifecycle: from early prototyping through flight hardware delivery
Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, integration, and testing
Strong collaboration and communication skills across disciplines and with external partners

Who We’re Looking For We’re searching for exceptional talent. We value high-caliber individuals with the drive and creativity to help launch Oregon’s first commercial communications satellite.
We’re looking for people who:

Thrive in a cradle-to-grave design environment and take ownership from concept through launch.
Bring energy, curiosity, and a responsible engineering mindset.
Want to work alongside other exceptional people in an environment where great ideas rise to the top.

Base SalaryThe base salary range for this position is $120,000-190,000/year. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed. Legal Eligibility to Work Due to U.S. export control regulations, this position is only open to “U.S. persons.” That means you must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or have refugee/asylee status. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applicants on temporary work visas (such as H-1B, TN, O-1, etc.) for this role.
Equal Employment Opportunity AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.

How we rate this

Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer at AscendArc rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer is an open job at AscendArc.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $120k-$190k a year.
The role is based in Beaverton, United States.
The job was posted on July 13, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by AscendArc. Apply on AscendArc

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Mechanical EngineeringStructural AnalysisCADSpacecraft DesignNxSolidworksFEA

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where mechanical engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where structural analysis was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where cad was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where spacecraft design was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used Nx in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Mechanical Engineering, Structural Analysis, CAD, Spacecraft Design, and Nx. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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