Structures and Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer
Astrolab · Hawthorne, CA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $155k–$175k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Astrolab (industrial) in Hawthorne, CA. Design, define, and develop fabrication, assembly, integration, test processes for Flight-qualified structural hardware, primary and secondary structures, metallic and composites assemblies, deployable mechanisms, actuators, hinges, latches and precision.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, GD&T, Machining, CATIA / NX, MES
- Base pay
- $155k–$175k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $109k–$153k. This one lists $155k–$175k.
Median of the low and high ends of 101 live postings that list pay, out of 282 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 281 other live manufacturing postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 26% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $109k–$153k, from 100 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 59%
- New product launch 54%
- ✓ Root cause 45%
- Automation 34%
- ✓ CATIA / NX 34%
- ✓ Machining 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Astrolab
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from AstrolabAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What you'll do
- ◆Design, define, and develop fabrication, assembly, integration, test processes for Flight-qualified structural hardware, primary and secondary structures, metallic and composites assemblies, deployable mechanisms, actuators, hinges, latches and precision mechanisms
- ◆Drive design for excellence (DFx) throughout all stages of the product life cycle
- ◆Develop and institutionalize fabrication and assembly standards
- ◆Champion implementation of technology, processes, and methodologies to accelerate hardware development, build, test, and operation
- ◆Lead investigations and determine solutions for non-conformances
- ◆Perform hands-on troubleshooting and root cause analysis
- ◆Hands-on work. Fabrication, assembly, test, and integration.
- ◆Develop work instructions and documentation for build and test processes
- ◆Outline detailed project plans and drive cross functional execution.
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- ✓5+ years of experience working in production, R&D, manufacturing engineering, or test operations supporting structures and mechanisms for flight-critical hardware
- ✓Experience with electro-mechanical systems, including precision mechanisms assembly and integration
- ✓Experience interpreting engineering drawings and applying GD&T principles in accordance with ASME Y14.5
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Master's degree in a relevant STEM field
- ✓Experience supporting human-rated spacecraft or NASA programs
- ✓Experience with composite manufacturing and/or precision machining
- ✓Experience using CAD modeling software; Siemens NX experience preferred
- ✓Experience conducting root cause investigations and implementing corrective actions across the product life cycle
- ✓Experience with ESD controls, precision cleaning, and cleanroom assembly
requirements
- ✓Experience using instrumentation and sensors, including power supplies, oscilloscopes, accelerometers, thermocouples, and RTDs
- ✓Experience working with safety regulations and developing or implementing best practices
- ✓Experience using JIRA, MES/MRP software, and Excel
- ✓Working knowledge of SMC-S-016 and SMC-S-017 standards
- ✓Experience with non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for metallic materials
- ✓Experience working with harnessing and familiarity with NASA-STD-8739.4, J-STD-001, and IPC/WHMA-A-620
Additional
Responsibilities
- ◆Must be able and willing to periodically travel (i.e. field testing events)
- ◆Must be able to lift 50 lbs
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Structures and Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer
Department: Manufacturing Engineering
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Hawthorne, California
Description
Astrolab is The Lunar Operations Company. We design and build the systems and hardware the lunar economy will come to depend on — rovers, power, and data networks for sustained operations on the Moon. We are focused on the problems that must be solved before the next chapter of human exploration can scale. The Moon does not forgive untested assumptions. The people who work here know that, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Astrolab is looking for a team member who will support both the development of lunar rovers and development of our production processes and facility. You will collaborate with other Astrolab engineers to advance product design in tandem with advancing our means to build and test. You will be ultimately responsible for ensuring the timely build and test of various rover subassemblies, subsystems, and final vehicle integration activities.
Key supporter of these areas
- •Design of the rover and other lunar hardware
- •Collaborate with the cross functional team to develop the product, processes, facility, and supply chain simultaneously championing concurrent engineering
- •Supplier development
- •Quality systems, data, and records management
- •Development of internal design, construction, and verification specifications
- •Configuration management
- •Procurement and production planning
What you'll bring
Basic
Benefits and Perks
- •Join a team of best-in-class engineers building the foundation of planetary surface exploration
- •Equity ownership in the company
- •Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and mental health support
- •401(k) plan with company match
- •Flexible PTO and parental leave
- •Weekly lunch stipend, plus complimentary snacks and beverages on-site
- •Once a month social hour on-site with food and drinks