Senior Director of Vehicle Engineering
Job Description
Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.
Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
Senior Director of Vehicle Engineering
We are seeking a seasoned people leader and versatile technical mind to run our vehicle engineering teams, including mechanical, thermal, and propulsion, as we develop our next-generation spacecraft. As a key member of the Astranis leadership team, you will be the ultimate technical owner for your domain and the ultimate resource for the team leads and engineers who report to you. This role requires a leader with deep technical experience, preferably in aerospace or similar high-reliability fields, who can guide multiple technical teams while fostering a culture of hard work and outstanding results.
Role
- Lead, manage, and mentor managers across the mechanical, thermal, and propulsion teams, ensuring high morale and productivity.
- Scale the engineering team by recruiting, training, and developing top-tier talent across multiple disciplines.
- Develop and execute a long-term technical roadmap that solidifies our position as a market leader.
- Navigate complex technical trades and direct the development of a series of innovative product offerings.
- Oversee program execution, managing cost, risk, and schedule for multiple projects.
- Drive teams to deliver high-quality, reliable, and efficient systems on schedule.
- Represent the company and its programs to external stakeholders, including customers, regulators, and investors.
Requirements
- 10+ years of technical experience
- 5+ years as a manager
- 3+ years as a manager of managers (informal leadership is acceptable).
- Experience working on at least one integrated vehicle (e.g., spacecraft, aircraft, car).
- Proven track record driving a fast-moving, delivery-focused new product development program.
- Experience with program planning, schedule development, and resource planning.
- Experience scaling an engineering team.
- B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent technical degree.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green-Card Holder.
Bonus
- Active or former security clearance.
- Experience working on U.S. Government programs.
Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.
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Job Details
- Category
- Aerospace Engineering
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Location
- San Francisco, California, United States
- Posted
- May 12, 2026, 08:12 PM
- Compensation
- $265,000 - $330,000 per year
About Astranis
Part of the growing frontier tech ecosystem pushing the edges of what's possible.
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