What the role involves
About the Role
We’re looking for a hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer to own real flight and ground hardware from concept through test and iteration. This is a builder role.
You will design, fabricate, assemble, break, and fix hardware that flies and gets tested in harsh environments. You’ll work closely with structures, propulsion, avionics, and more, and you should expect to split time between the office, shop, and test site.
What You’ll Do
Design and own mechanical hardware for flight vehicles and ground support equipment (structures, tanks, mounts, mechanisms, test hardware)
Take parts from CAD to drawings to fabrication to assembly to test, with full ownership of outcomes
Design for manufacturability, rapid iteration, and imperfect real-world conditions
Support and participate in test campaigns, including on-site troubleshooting and repairs
Work directly with propulsion and test engineers to resolve mechanical issues uncovered during testing
Do hand calcs and run FEA simulations
Continuously improve internal design, build, and test workflows as we scale
What We’re Looking For
Demonstrable experience designing and building real mechanical hardware that was tested in the real world
Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) and the ability to produce build-ready drawings
Solid understanding of common manufacturing methods (machining, welding, sheet metal, composites, rapid prototyping)
Comfort getting hands-on with hardware, tools, and test equipment
Ability to work independently, take ownership, and move forward with incomplete information
Willingness to spend time in the shop and at a remote test site when needed
Experience level is flexible; we care more about what you’ve built than how many years you’ve worked
What we offer
Competitive salary and meaningful stock options
Healthcare, office meals & snacks
Direct mentorship from founders & engineers with rich flight heritage
Fast upward mobility as the company grows
This position may require access to export-controlled information. Applicants must be a U.S. Person under ITAR.
Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Greatness looks different in every one of us - and we need the best tackling this problem.
About Hop Aero
Hop Aero is building rocket cargo vehicles that deliver to contested environments hundreds of miles away in minutes. Our rockets fly point-to-point into the most austere locations at hypersonic speeds. Hop Aero's goal is to provide the U.S. and allies the asymmetric advantage that deters a future major conflict.
Full Hop Aero profile