Mechanical Engineer
HawkEye 360
Herndon, VA · $70k–$115k a year · Posted September 23, 2026
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Where Herndon, VA ranks
Where Herndon, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #2Best cities for pay after cost of living in Virginia$161k · of 15
- #3Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Southeast$161k · of 33
- #3Best all-round cities for AI careers in the Mid-Atlantic86 / 100 · of 37
- #4Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Mid-Atlantic$161k · of 37
- #4Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Mid-Atlantic441 openings · of 68
- #4Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic76 / 100 · of 37
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing pays about $92,500 a year. Across 162 open mechanical engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $106,000 to $153,500 and the median is $132,500. That is 30% below the median, below the middle half of those listings.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
HawkEye 360 is currently seeking a Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer to join the Space Team. The Space Team’s mission is to design, build, and test small commercial satellites that provide revolutionary RF geospatial analytics.
As part of this team, you will contribute to the mechanical design, analysis, integration, and testing of our spacecraft and payloads. Your work will span spacecraft systems design, test development, unit and spacecraft-level testing, and launch campaigns. We're looking for a detail-oriented engineer who is creative, collaborative, and passionate about developing innovative space technology.
This role is onsite in our Herndon office.
Your main responsibilities will be:
Support mechanical hardware design and modifications, including part and assembly drawings for spacecraft and ground support equipment (GSE)
Create spacecraft mechanical assembly and test procedures
Perform engineering calculations for thermal and structural (static and dynamic) analysis
Assist with integration and testing of flight hardware at all development stages from unit testing through final spacecraft assembly
Support structural qualification testing on spacecraft systems and components
Execute assembly and test procedures, and perform software debugging as needed
Your skills and qualifications: Essential education and experience:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
2+ years of relevant engineering experience (internships and university projects count)
Proficiency with CAD software (NX, SolidWorks, or similar)
Understanding of electronics lab environments, including ESD mitigation and cleanroom protocols
Strong analytical skills with excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Ability to work onsite and hands-on with spacecraft hardware while following strict ESD and cleanroom protocols
Desirable:
Interest in the smallsat or space industry, particularly RF payloads or communication systems.
Experience designing and building mechanical hardware for space applications
Familiarity with mechanical analysis tool such as NX FEMAP/NASTRAN, ABAQUS, HYPERMESH, etc.
Experience working with electrical harnesses and connectors
Knowledge of standard aerospace test practices (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
Experience designing or modifying ground support equipment (EGSE/MGSE)
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
Curiosity and eagerness to learn new approaches and technologies
We offer a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus, benefits and equity. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.
Salary Range $70,000 — $115,000 USD
Company Overview:
HawkEye 360 is equipping defense, intelligence, and national security leaders with mission-critical signals intelligence to enable faster, better decision making. By detecting, geolocating, and characterizing radio frequency emissions worldwide, HawkEye 360 delivers trusted domain awareness and early warning indicators to the US Government and allied partners. Our space-based collection, proprietary signal processing, and AI-powered analytics transform knowledge of RF spectrum into a strategic advantage. Proven by operational mission success, HawkEye 360 is redefining how signals intelligence strengthens national and global security.
HawkEye 360 is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.