Mechanical Engineer
$85,000–$130,000 year
On-siteGolden, Colorado, United States
Job Summary
Own complex, space-grade mechanical and electromechanical subsystems from concept through production and on-orbit operation, including requirements definition, detailed CAD modeling, tolerance stack-ups, and design reviews. Design spacecraft mechanisms, actuators, and structural assemblies that survive launch loads, then collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate these designs into flight hardware. Support prototype builds, oversee mechanical verification and validation including environmental and vibration testing, and engage suppliers to produce and check detailed drawings and GD&T. Mentor junior engineers and contribute to continuous improvement of design standards and documentation. This full-time, on-site role in Golden, Colorado supports a small team developing electromagnetic self-assembling tiles for bigger, more powerful spacecraft.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of mechanical design experience
- Strong foundation in core mechanical engineering principles—statics, dynamics, materials, and structural analysis
- Strong ability to communicate across engineering disciplines to make program-critical decisions
- Solid understanding of aerospace materials, hardware, and fabrication techniques
- Demonstrated experience designing spaceflight hardware—mechanisms, actuators, and structural assemblies built for launch and on-orbit environments
- Strong command of CAD tools for 3D modeling, detailed drawings, and tolerance stack-ups
- Test plan development, including environmental and structural testing experience, preferably for spaceflight hardware qualification
- Hands-on R&D background—prototyping, testing, and iterating on novel mechanical concepts
- 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
Desired Qualifications
- advanced degree or equivalent experience
- Experience with design lifecycle and configuration management systems
- Proficiency with Onshape (SolidWorks, NX, or Creo also valued) and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
- Experience with industry-standard FEA tools (e.g., Nastran/Femap, ANSYS, Abaqus) and thermal tools (e.g., Thermal Desktop or a comparable node-based solver)
- Project-management experience—planning, scheduling, risk identification, and cross-functional coordination
- Familiarity with NASA (e.g., NASA-STD-5020, GEVS) and/or SMC-S-016 verification standards
- Understanding of aerospace loading and thermal environments, material behavior, and margin assessment
- Familiarity with separation systems, deployables, or precision mechanisms
- Ownership of a spacecraft or satellite subsystem across its full lifecycle: design, qualification, production, and on-orbit operation
- Experience in a startup or fast-iteration hardware environment
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