Senior Mechanical Engineer - Research & Development

This position requires access to export-controlled technology. Only U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible.

IRPI is an agile research and engineering firm that develops experimental and  flight‑ready hardware for crewed and uncrewed space missions. Our portfolio spans Environmental Control & Life‑Support Systems, propellant management, precision spray and filtration technologies, high‑performance thermal‑fluid components, and emerging technologies for hydroponics and biological sciences. We pair rigorous first‑principles analysis with rapid prototyping and testing to turn bold concepts into qualified spacecraft hardware and terrestrial technologies.

Your Mission

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer in R&D, you will lead and contribute across the full lifecycle of innovative hardware, taking concepts from first sketch to flight qualification. Your work will span a broad range of activities, including conceptual design, detailed thermal-fluid-structural analysis, hands-on prototyping, experimental validation, and manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Innovate & Design: Conceive, model, and refine novel mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems for spaceflight and related applications.
• Analyze & Simulate: Perform detailed thermal, fluid, and structural analyses to inform and validate designs. Develop and apply CFD, FEA, or Surface Evolver models as needed.
• Prototype & Build: Lead rapid prototyping efforts using additive manufacturing and precision machining. Assemble, integrate, and troubleshoot functional test hardware.
• Experiment & Validate: Design test plans, build instrumented rigs, and conduct experiments under mission-relevant conditions. Correlate experimental data to analytical predictions.
• Data Interpretation: Process and analyze experimental results including advanced image processing to extract meaningful insights and guide design iteration.
• CAD & Documentation: Create 3D CAD models and detailed manufacturing drawings (SolidWorks). Develop technical reports, test procedures, and review documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate & Solve: Partner with multidisciplinary teams, NASA centers, and major aerospace contractors to solve complex engineering problems and deliver flight-ready solutions.

If you thrive on turning complex challenges into elegant, validated hardware and you're quick to learn, with the ability to contribute at the whiteboard, in simulation, during analysis, and on the shop floor, we’d love to meet you.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical design, analysis, and prototyping of hardware systems
• Proficiency in 3D CAD (e.g., SolidWorks) and generating production-ready manufacturing drawings
• Experience with thermal, fluid, or structural analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL, SolidWorks Simulation, or custom scripts)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including interpreting experimental data and correlating it with models
• Excellent communication skills—capable of writing clear technical reports and collaborating across disciplines
• Due to ITAR regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field (strongly preferred)
• Proficiency with CFD, FEA, or multiphysics tools (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL, Surface Evolver, OpenFOAM)
• Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing (especially FDM, SLA, SLS etc.) and CNC machining
• Experience developing and executing complex test plans, including custom instrumentation and data acquisition
• Strong programming or scripting ability (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for automation, analysis, or custom model development
• Professional proficiency in SolidWorks for complex mechanical design and detailed drawings.
• Comfortable working in a small, agile R&D team with shifting priorities and high accountability

Benefits

Why Join IRPI?

• Diverse R&D Challenges: Engage in a wide array of stimulating research and development projects, ensuring your work is always evolving.
• Tangible Innovation: Take ideas from the drawing board through rigorous analysis, hands-on prototypin