Head of Engineering
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
About the job
## About Gravitics At Gravitics, we're not just exploring space - we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture the large-scale structures and systems that will power human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond.
If you're ready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther, Gravitics is the place for you. Let's build the future, together. ## About the Role Gravitics is looking for a Head of Engineering to own technical execution across one or more of our core hardware programs.
You'll lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization structures, mechanisms, propulsion, avionics, and software from concept through design, build, integration, and test. This is a hands-on leadership role at a company where directors are still close to the hardware: you'll set technical direction, unblock your teams, and represent engineering to the executive team, customers, and government partners.
You'll report to the Chief Operating Officer and be a key member of the engineering leadership team as Gravitics scales from prototype to flight-qualified, repeatable hardware. ## Responsibilities - Own engineering execution for one or more major programs cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality from concept through delivery and flight - Build, lead, and grow multidisciplinary teams spanning mechanical/structures, propulsion, avionics, and flight software - Set technical strategy and make build-vs-buy, make-vs-partner, and architecture trade-off calls in a resource-constrained startup environment - Establish and mature engineering processes (design reviews, requirements management, configuration control, verification & validation) appropriate for human-rated and government/defense hardware - Partner closely with Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Program Management to move designs from CAD to flight article on aggressive timelines - Represent engineering in customer and government program reviews - Recruit, mentor, and retain top engineering talent; build the technical culture and hiring bar as the team scales - Manage program risk, drive root-cause resolution on technical issues, and communicate status and trade-offs clearly to executive leadership ## About You Required Attributes - 10+ years in aerospace/spacecraft engineering, with 4+ years in a people-leadership role (engineering manager, director, or equivalent) - Track record shipping flight hardware spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, or comparable complex electromechanical systems - from design through integration and test - Deep technical fluency across at least one core discipline (structures, mechanisms, propulsion, avionics, or GN&C/flight software) and working knowledge across the rest - Experience standing up or scaling engineering processes at a growing hardware company (startup or program-start experience strongly preferred) - Comfort operating with incomplete information and limited resources - this is a lean team building hard things fast - Experience working government/defense contracts (SBIR/STTR, STRATFI, Space Force, or similar) is a strong plus - Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field (advanced degree a plus) - U.S.
Person status required due to government contract and ITAR/EAR requirements; ability to obtain a security clearance is a plus ## Compensation and Benefits Your level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the considerations of job-related knowledge and skills, education, and direct experience.
Salary is just one component of the total employee package, which also includes company equity at an exciting time of company growth, as well as comprehensive medical, 401(k) retirement plan, a generous PTO policy, employee discounts, and more. ## About Compliance To conform to U.S.
Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you 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 the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Gravitics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Salary Range $200,000 - $275,000 USD
From Gravitics's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Contract Professionals Inc (CPI)Engineering and technical staffing agency
Aerospace and defense staffing firm in Waterford, Michigan, placing engineers, maintenance technicians, mechanics, welders and CNC machinists.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
Moseley Technical ServicesEngineering and technical staffing agency
Engineering and technical staffing firm in Huntsville, Alabama, placing engineers and A&P, sheet metal, CNC and quality technicians.
Places: Propulsion, Mechanical, Avionics, RF & Payloads
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New systems engineering, integration and test jobs in space, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About Gravitics
Orbital carriers, cargo systems and commercial space station modules.
Pay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Gravitics's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
More open jobs at Gravitics
- Chief Engineer - Spacecraft$210,000–$250,000/yr
- Structures Analyst$110,000–$140,000/yr
- Senior Mechanisms Engineer$130,000–$165,000/yr
- Senior Power Systems Engineer$130,000–$170,000/yr
- Senior Propulsion Engineer$135,000–$160,000/yr
- Senior Systems Engineer$140,000–$170,000/yr
More systems engineering, integration and test jobs in space
- Software System Engineer
- Engineer Senior Principal - CONOPS - $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS$132,962–$226,035/yr
- Engineer Senior Principal – Space Vehicle Systems / Simulators$132,962–$226,035/yr
- Associate Manager, Integration and Test Engineering 1
- Scientist, Systems Engineering (Chief Systems Engineer): Sign-on bonus ($50k max) 1
- Hardware Test Engineer$110,000–$176,000/yr
A systems, integration or test engineer?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
Gravitics openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from Gravitics's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.