Aerospace Engineer jobs in California

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $103,000 – $155,000

This role involves developing structural loads, dynamic analyses, and vibration specifications for Relativity Space's Terran R rocket, working across multiple engineering teams from design through flight testing. It suits engineers with mechanics and vibrations expertise who can build analytical models, conduct testing validation, and drive technical decisions in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

CesiumAstro

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $150,000 – $181,000

CesiumAstro is seeking a senior propulsion engineer to lead the structural and thermal design of launch vehicle components from concept to flight. This role suits someone with deep expertise in FEA and thermal analysis who wants to mentor teams and solve complex aerospace problems in a startup environment.

Listed on CesiumAstro’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

San Diego, CA · $250,000 – $340,000

This role leads the engineering and development of air vehicles for a multi-mission platform, overseeing technical strategy and team execution across design, testing, and production phases. It suits senior engineering leaders with deep aerospace experience who can drive innovation while managing complex cross-functional programs.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $165,750 – $224,250

Boeing is hiring a senior or principal-level engineer to lead the structural and mechanical design of space vehicles, overseeing teams across structures, thermal, dynamics, propulsion, and related disciplines. This role suits experienced aerospace engineers who excel at cross-functional integration and can drive complex satellite or spacecraft programs from concept through production.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

AeroVironment

Full-time · Moorpark, CA · $82,000 – $125,000

A guidance, navigation, and control engineer supporting the design and validation of flight control systems for unmanned aircraft, with responsibilities spanning system development, flight testing, and algorithm implementation. This role suits engineers with aerospace experience who want to work on autonomous vehicle technology across development phases from design through field testing.

Listed on AeroVironment’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Benchmark Space Systems

Full-time · Pleasanton, CA · $160,000 – $210,000

This role involves designing and implementing guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft propulsion systems, from concept through hardware testing and validation. It suits experienced control systems engineers who want to work hands-on with real flight software in a fast-paced space technology company.

Listed on Benchmark Space Systems’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $136,000 – $204,000

Lead technical efforts on structural dynamics, vibration, and acoustics analysis for a commercial rocket vehicle, working across multiple engineering disciplines to solve complex integration challenges. This role suits experienced dynamics engineers who thrive in fast-paced environments, mentoring junior staff while driving hardware-focused solutions from concept through flight operations.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $146,200 – $260,000

This role leads the design and architecture of spacecraft command and data handling systems for small satellites, working with avionics, electrical hardware, and complex subsystems that directly enable national security missions. It suits experienced electrical or aerospace engineers who want to drive strategic technical decisions, manage trade studies across mission-critical systems, and mentor others while working on hardware that launches into orbit.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $144,000 – $210,000

Shield AI is seeking an aircraft configuration design engineer to optimize aerodynamic, structural, propulsion, and mission systems integration for autonomous UAVs in a defense-tech setting. This role suits mechanical or aerospace engineers who thrive on multi-disciplinary systems work and rapid prototyping in fast-paced environments.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $104,000 – $156,000

This role involves designing and managing fluid systems for the Terran R rocket, including propellant, pressurant, and pneumatics architecture from concept through flight. You'll own system designs, conduct thermal and fluid analyses, lead reviews, and validate performance through testing—ideal for someone with hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle fluid systems who wants to see their work directly shape a functioning rocket.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Boeing

Full-time · El Segundo, CA · $119,850 – $176,250

This role manages the assembly, integration, and testing of satellites from design through launch, requiring someone to lead technical teams through complex manufacturing processes and drive efficiency improvements. It suits engineers with aerospace production experience who can bridge design and operations while working rotating shifts in a fast-paced space company.

Listed on Boeing’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $132,000 – $198,000

This role owns the design and validation of propellant, pressurization, and other fluid systems on Relativity's Terran R rocket, requiring deep expertise in system architecture, thermodynamics, and testing to turn concept into flight-ready hardware.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $130,000 – $200,000

Shield AI is building autonomous military aircraft and seeking a senior engineer to design and develop fluid systems for their X-BAT jet-engine VTOL drone, including cooling and thermal management. This role suits someone with substantial aerospace systems experience who can own component design, supplier relationships, and testing across multiple technical areas.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $160,000 – $240,000

Shield AI is hiring a senior structural design engineer to develop components for autonomous aircraft, from concept through production. This role suits experienced aerospace engineers who want hands-on responsibility for flight-critical designs within a defense-tech company building next-generation platforms.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Full-time · Long Beach, CA · $136,000 – $204,000

Lead a team of propulsion analysts responsible for thermal, structural, and dynamic analysis of rocket engine components and assemblies at an early-stage launch company. This role suits experienced engineers who want to shape both technical direction and team culture while working on flight-critical systems.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA · $185,000 – $277,000

This Principal-level role leads the design and development of gas storage systems for Relativity Space's Terran R reusable rocket, working across vendor partnerships, system architecture, and qualification testing. You'll own the full lifecycle of composite pressure vessels from conception through flight integration, solving novel challenges in launch vehicle propulsion systems.

Listed on Relativity Space’s careers site · Apply there ↗

Shield AI

Full-time · San Diego, CA · $220,000 – $340,000

This role involves developing and testing autonomous landing systems for Shield AI's aircraft, specifically for precision recovery onto moving ships in challenging environments without GPS. It's suited for engineers with hands-on experience moving guidance algorithms from the lab through actual flight validation.

Listed on Shield AI’s careers site · Apply there ↗