Lead Vehicle Design & Systems Engineer (Atmospheric Flight)

About Helogen The next great industrial revolution will not happen on Earth. For the first time in history, humanity has the ability to build factories beyond our planet. The research, testing, and manufacturing conducted in these environments will unlock breakthroughs in medicine, materials, energy, computing, and technologies that cannot be achieved under Earth's gravity. Helogen is building the infrastructure that makes this future possible. Our mission is to transform space from a distant realm we explore into an accessible world where industry operates. We are developing the manufacturing platforms, autonomous systems, logistics networks, and operational infrastructure required to power commercial production in space at scale. We believe innovations in space will define the next century of technological progress.  We're looking for leaders who want to build these systems from the ground up. This is an opportunity to help create an entirely new industrial category, assemble a world-class team, shape the future of manufacturing beyond Earth, and accelerate scientific and technological advances that can improve life on Earth.   The Role: Helogen is seeking a Lead Vehicle Design & Systems Engineer (Atmospheric Flight) in Austin, Texas to design, develop, and deliver advanced aerospace systems from concept through flight. You’ll be joining a small team of high-caliber engineers, scientists, and operators united by the belief that the microgravity environment of space represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities in the history of medicine and industry.  In this role, you'll own vehicle systems and technical projects while contributing to overall vehicle architecture and system performance. You'll work across structures, thermal systems, avionics, manufacturing, testing, and operations to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver flight-ready hardware. This role is ideal for a builder who thinks at the vehicle level, can rapidly evaluate tradeoffs, make sound technical decisions with incomplete information, and drive progress in a fast-paced development environment. As an early member of the engineering team, you'll have significant influence over technical direction, engineering culture, and the foundational systems that will power Helogen's long-term mission. How You’ll Make An Impact: Design, develop, and deliver advanced aerospace systems from concept through flight Own technical projects and subsystems while contributing to overall vehicle architecture and system performance Perform engineering trades involving structures, thermal systems, avionics, flight dynamics, manufacturing, testing, and operations Develop requirements, interface definitions, analysis plans, and verification approaches Lead hardware design, prototyping, integration, and qualification activities Work closely with cross-functional teams to solve complex multidisciplinary engineering challenges Contribute to vehicle-level design reviews and technical decision-making Support supplier engagement, manufacturing activities, and hardware build efforts Participate in testing, mission preparation, flight operations, and post-flight analysis Drive decision making in ambiguous environments  Help shape engineering culture, processes, and technical standards as the organization grows What We're Looking For: Requirements: Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Robotics, or a related technical field Experience developing complex hardware, aerospace systems, spacecraft, launch vehicles, autonomous systems, robotics, or other highly integrated engineering products through design, development, testing, and deployment Vehicle level thinker who considers structures, thermal systems, manufacturing challenges, testing, and operations Advanced engineering fundamentals and first-principles problem-solving abilities Strong systems-thinking capabilities and the ability to evaluate tradeoffs across multiple engineering disciplines Experience with engineering analysis, design tools, simulation environments, or hardware development workflows relevant to your area of expertise Ability to solve challenging technical problems from definition through execution Sound engineering judgment; can make quick technical decisions in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments Strong work ethic, with a willingness to support accelerated development schedules during critical testing and launch campaigns Excellent communication and collaboration skills Nice to have: Aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, energy, or other high-performance engineering industries Flight hardware, spacecraft, launch vehicles, atmospheric flight systems, autonomous systems, or advanced manufacturing platforms Hardware development in fast-paced or resource-constrained environments Systems engineering, testing, integration, or vehicle development activities Rapid prototyping, design iteration, and hardware qualification Startup experience or experience building new products from the ground up Experience working across multiple engineering disciplines Compensation: The salary range for this position is $170,000-$185,000 with equity offered. Qualified candidates must be based in Austin, Texas or willing to relocate there. Benefits: Build alongside a founding team of visionaries and investors from NASA, Blue Origin, MIT Lincoln Lab, and the ISS Unlimited PTO Health, dental, vision and life insurance 401(k) program Membership to OneMedical Be part of creating something new that will change the world Export Control Requirements Due to the nature of the work performed, applicants must be a U.S. Person as defined by U.S.* export control regulations or otherwise eligible to access export-controlled information and technology. *U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.) Compensation The base pay range for this role is $170,000 – $185,000 per year.