We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to join our Inspace Propulsion team in Christchurch. The role involves the design, analysis, prototyping, and testing of mechanical systems used in spacecraft propulsion and related space hardware.

You will work on structural components as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team developing space hardware.

Key responsibilities

·       Design and develop mechanical components and assemblies for space propulsion and spacecraft systems

·       Produce CAD models and engineering drawings

·       Conduct structural analysis and finite element analysis (FEA) to validate designs

·       Take ownership of defined mechanical components or work packages within spacecraft systems

·       Plan, execute, and validate prototype testing to support design verification

·       Support integration of mechanical subsystems into propulsion hardware

·       Conduct FMEA and contribute to reliability assessments

·       Contribute to technical documentation and test reporting

·       Work with engineers across design, manufacturing, and systems teams

·       Apply engineering judgement to evaluate design trade-offs in performance, manufacturability, and reliability

Skills and experience required

·       Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

·       Around 1–2 years’ experience in mechanical engineering, R&D, or similar (including internships or research experience)

·       Strong CAD skills (e.g. Siemens NX, or similar)

·       Exposure to FEA tools such as Ansys, Abaqus or Nastran

·       Understanding of structural mechanics and engineering principles

·       Experience with prototyping, testing, or hands-on engineering work

·       Good communication and ability to work in a team environment

Desirable experience

·       Exposure to aerospace, propulsion, or spacecraft systems

·       Experience with precision mechanical systems or high-reliability hardware

·       Familiarity with MATLAB or Python

·       Experience with additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping

·       Interest in space systems engineering and propulsion technologies

Diversity & Inclusion

At Dawn Aerospace, we believe that diverse teams build better solutions. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences are valued and supported to do their best work.

About Dawn Aerospace

Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company with a purpose.
Our mission is to enable the next generation of space users by providing more sustainable and scalable ways to access and move around in space. We believe this access, in the form of a transportation network, will fundamentally change what’s possible from space. We currently focus on three areas of space transportation:

• In-space propulsion
  We're a leading supplier of turnkey green propulsion systems for various classes of satellites. Our systems utilise safe, accessible propellants and we have over 170 of these propulsion units on more than 40 operational satellites already. A further 200 units are in production.
• In-space servicing
  Coupled with our propulsion expertise, we are ensuring that our customers' satellites are refuellable. In the coming years, Dawn will offer a refueling service to enable life extension of customer satellites. This new market is aligned with our sustainability goal to ensue a clean and safe space for everyone!
• Spaceplane
  We are developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to sub-orbital space.

Our international teams are distributed across four locations: the Netherlands, France, New Zealand, and the USA.

Important!

If you think you have what it takes but are unsure that you check every box, we still want to hear from you.

To all recruitment agencies: Dawn Aerospace does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our job’s alias, our employees, or any other company location. Dawn Aerospace will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.