Axiom Space

Manager, Structures & Mechanisms

Axiom Space$120K — $145K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Space Engineering, or related field.
  • 10+ years in mechanical design and engineering, focusing on aerospace structures and mechanisms for spaceflight.
  • Proven experience in building and scaling engineering teams in fast-paced environments.
  • Experience in mentoring engineers on fundamentals and best practices.
  • Hands-on experience as a hardware lead in complex flight hardware assemblies.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the Structures & Mechanisms engineering team across all Axiom programs.
  • Establish and enforce technical standards and practices for design rigor.
  • Partner with program management and engineering leads to prioritize and resolve resource conflicts.
  • Maintain staffing plans and resource estimates for team projects to meet commitments.
  • Define acceptance criteria and review expectations for engineering work.
  • Provide technical expertise to multiple projects when needed.
  • Monitor productivity metrics to drive continuous improvement within the team.

Benefits

  • Access to cutting-edge technology in the aerospace industry.
  • Opportunity to work on innovative projects that contribute to space exploration.
  • Professional growth through mentorship and skill development.
  • Collaboration within a high-energy and passionate team environment.
  • Contributions to creating meaningful impact in the realm of human spaceflight.
Full Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY

Since Axiom Space is a very complex work environment, we are looking for a resilient, high-energy Manager, Structures & Mechanisms, who provides operational leadership for the Structures & Mechanisms team. The role is responsible for developing the people, processes, tools, standards, and technical capabilities needed to support current and future programs. This position is accountable for workforce development, resource planning, technical governance, and the consistent delivery of high-quality analysis products that meet customer, quality, and configuration-management requirements. This position reports to the Director - Mechanical Engineering and will be based onsite at our Space Station Development Facility (SSDF) in Webster, Texas.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Leading and managing a team of Mechanical Engineers responsible for Structures & Mechanisms design across all Axiom programs.
  • Establish, maintain, and enforce standards and practices to ensure technical rigor and consistency.
  • Partners with program managers, chief engineers, and functional leaders to balance priorities, resolve resource conflicts, and manage technical and schedule risks.
  • Maintain labor forecasts, staffing plans, and resource estimates for Structures & Mechanisms work to ensure programs have adequate support to meet cost, schedule, technical quality, and customer commitments.
  • Define acceptance criteria for work performed by the discipline, establish review expectations and quality thresholds.
  • Provide technical subject matter expertise when requested by projects.
  • Establish and monitor metrics related to productivity, staffing utilization, review effectiveness, and process maturity, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain team technical capabilities and knowledge management practices to ensure long-term competitiveness and program success.
  • Maintain clear competency expectations and role progression paths and foster professional growth and technical depth of the workforce.
  • Perform additional job duties as assigned.


QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Space Engineering, or related technical discipline.
  • 10+ years of experience in mechanical design and engineering, with emphasis on aerospace structures and mechanisms for spaceflight applications.
  • Experience establishing and scaling engineering teams in a rapid-growth environment.
  • Experience mentoring or instructing engineers in technical fundamentals and engineering best practices.
  • Prior experience in a shared services engineering organization supporting multiple programs simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience as a hardware lead for complex flight hardware assemblies (human rated preferred).
  • Experience taking mechanical hardware from concept to flight delivery.
  • Track record of leading verification and validation (V&V) activities for flight hardware or systems.
  • Working knowledge of aerospace materials, manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
  • Strong understanding of structural analysis methods and mechanical testing requirements for spaceflight hardware.
  • Experience with ASME Y14.5 Dimensioning and Tolerancing Standards and ASME Y14.100 Engineering Drawing Practices Standards.
  • Experience guiding and mentoring a diverse team.


Core Skills
  • Passion for space and the mission
  • Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
  • High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally.
  • Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster.


Core Competencies:

Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
  • Accountability
  • Technical Rigor
  • Execution Discipline
  • Pride of Delivery


WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements
  • This position may require access to export controlled technical data or technology subject to NASA regulations, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In accordance with U.S. export control laws, final candidates may be required to undergo additional export control screening to determine eligibility for access. Meeting these requirements is a condition of employment.
  • Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised.
  • Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.


Physical Requirements
  • Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time).
  • May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)
  • Equipment and Machines
  • Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)

About Axiom Space

Axiom Space is a private space exploration company that aims to build the world's first commercial space station. The company was founded in 2016 by Michael Suffredini, who previously served as the manager of the International Space Station program at NASA. Axiom Space plans to launch its first module to the International Space Station in 2020, and eventually detach it to form the core of its own space station. The company has partnerships with major aerospace companies such as Boeing and SpaceX.
Learn more about Axiom Space

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