Head of Engineering

Job description

About Gravitics At Gravitics, we're not just exploring space—we're building it. We're creating the infrastructure for a thriving space economy, enabling humanity to flourish beyond Earth. Our vision is bold, but we're not just dreamers; we're doers. We design and manufacture the large-scale structures and systems that will power human and robotic activity in Earth orbit and beyond. If you're ready to lay the foundations for a new era in space, embrace a culture of relentless learning and innovation, and contribute to a future where humanity's reach extends farther, Gravitics is the place for you. Let's build the future, together. About the Role Gravitics is looking for a Head of Engineering to own technical execution across one or more of our core hardware programs. You'll lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization structures, mechanisms, propulsion, avionics, and software from concept through design, build, integration, and test. This is a hands-on leadership role at a company where directors are still close to the hardware: you'll set technical direction, unblock your teams, and represent engineering to the executive team, customers, and government partners. You'll report to the Chief Operating Officer and be a key member of the engineering leadership team as Gravitics scales from prototype to flight-qualified, repeatable hardware. Responsibilities: Own engineering execution for one or more major programs cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality from concept through delivery and flight Build, lead, and grow multidisciplinary teams spanning mechanical/structures, propulsion, avionics, and flight software Set technical strategy and make build-vs-buy, make-vs-partner, and architecture trade-off calls in a resource-constrained startup environment Establish and mature engineering processes (design reviews, requirements management, configuration control, verification & validation) appropriate for human-rated and government/defense hardware Partner closely with Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Program Management to move designs from CAD to flight article on aggressive timelines Represent engineering in customer and government program reviews Recruit, mentor, and retain top engineering talent; build the technical culture and hiring bar as the team scales Manage program risk, drive root-cause resolution on technical issues, and communicate status and trade-offs clearly to executive leadership About You Required Attributes 10+ years in aerospace/spacecraft engineering, with 4+ years in a people-leadership role (engineering manager, director, or equivalent) Track record shipping flight hardware spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, or comparable complex electromechanical systems — from design through integration and test Deep technical fluency across at least one core discipline (structures, mechanisms, propulsion, avionics, or GN&C/flight software) and working knowledge across the rest Experience standing up or scaling engineering processes at a growing hardware company (startup or program-start experience strongly preferred) Comfort operating with incomplete information and limited resources — this is a lean team building hard things fast Experience working government/defense contracts (SBIR/STTR, STRATFI, Space Force, or similar) is a strong plus Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or related field (advanced degree a plus) U.S. Person status required due to government contract and ITAR/EAR requirements; ability to obtain a security clearance is a plus Compensation and Benefits Your level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the considerations of job-related knowledge and skills, education, and direct experience. Salary is just one component of the total employee package, which also includes company equity at an exciting time of company growth, as well as comprehensive medical, 401(k) retirement plan, a generous PTO policy, employee discounts, and more. About Compliance To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Gravitics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Salary Range $200,000 — $275,000 USD