Darpa Program Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Vehicle Design Principal to drive the development of next-generation space vehicles for crewed spaceflight applications. This individual will be responsible for leading the vehicle mechanical design development effort from early concept and architecture definition through qualification and flight readiness, ensuring the successful delivery of safe, reliable, and high-performance hardware.
As a key technical leader within the Engineering organization, the Vehicle Design Principal will play a central role in shaping strategy, developing team capabilities, mitigating technical risks, and ensuring mechanical systems meet demanding performance, reliability, schedule, and cost objectives.
Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership
  
  • Lead the creation and development of detailed CAD models, assemblies, and technical drawings of the vehicle, primary and secondary vehicle structural elements, and mechanical systems.
  • Lead the development of the overall system layout, including component accommodation and interface definition, applying a top-down design approach and managing complex, large assemblies.
  • Ensure compliance with industry standards, human-rating requirements and quality processes throughout the product lifecycle.
• Vehicle Architecture
  
  • Establish vehicle design, layout, structural elements, and drive key design decisions.
  • Conduct trade studies, mechanical simulation, and analytical assessments to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost.
  • Review and perform preliminary mechanical analysis including first order sizing and specification of structures, and structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
  • Provide models and necessary information for structural static & dynamic, thermal, and other system-level analyses.
  • Own mechanical technical requirements and contribute to long-term strategy and innovation roadmaps.
• Program Execution
  
  • Plan, coordinate, and oversee development activities to achieve technical, schedule, and budget objectives.
  • Lead development and qualification including verification, validation, certification, and flight-readiness activities.
  • Manage Product Lifecycle Management workflows, Bill of Materials configurations, and Interface Control Documents.
  • Identify and mitigate technical risks, resolve anomalies, and deliver qualified flight hardware aligned with program milestones.
• Team Leadership & Capability Development
  
  • Build, lead, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary mechanical team.
  • Provide technical mentorship to engineers.
  • Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder, Supplier & Cross-Functional Management
  
  • Lead technical interactions with suppliers, development partners, and external stakeholders, including component selection, procurement, oversight, and acceptance activities.
  • Collaborate closely with subsystems, MAIT, and program teams to ensure successful system integration.
  • Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations while ensuring alignment between mechanical activities and broader vehicle development objectives.

What we would love to see from you

• B.S. in Mechanical Design, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Technology, or similar related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering experience. Relevant advanced degrees will be considered in lieu of equivalent experience.
• System mindset with a proven capability of understanding and managing complex systems.
• Demonstrated experience designing, integrating, and testing space systems, vehicles, or component/subsystems including direct experience in one or more of the following areas of development: structure design and analysis, manufacturing, integration and test.
• Experience designing structural components.
• Experience with CAD and lifecycle management tools, incorporating plumbing and/or electrical harness routing in 3D and finite element analysis software.
• Understanding of environmental testing, such as vibration, shock, acoustic, and/or thermal vacuum (TVAC).
• Experience working with external customers such as commercial companies and government agencies (NASA, AFRL, DARPA, etc.).
  Due to federal regulations (e.g., ITAR/EAR), applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (e.g., current Green Card holders).
  Location: Houston, TX.

Why you should join us!
What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:

• We're Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind
• We're Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them
• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It's a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly.
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.
All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.
If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.