Mechanical Engineers (Design)

Mechanical Engineer (DESIGN)

Program Description:

This role supports the design, development, integration, and verification of spaceborne precision optical and cryogenic mechanical systems for a constellation of payloads built and delivered by the prime. The Mechanical Design Engineer will own detailed mechanical design across the full product lifecycle, from requirements definition through design, build, qualification, and release to production.

Engineers in this role will develop repeatable, producible, flight-qualified mechanical designs, working closely with structural, thermal, optical, systems, electrical, manufacturing, and test teams to ensure precision, alignment, and consistency across multiple payload builds in a space environment.

Day to Day Responsibilities:


Own detailed mechanical design for precision optics, mirrors, mounts, and cryogenic optical systems supporting a payload constellation

Develop flight-ready CAD models and drawings, including GD&T and tolerance stack-ups, for repeatable production

Translate system and subsystem requirements into clear, manufacturable mechanical designs and interfaces

Support mechanical systems analysis, contributing to architecture definition and design trade studies

Develop and maintain mechanical specifications, ICDs, and compliance documentation applicable to constellation builds

Create and review CAD models, drawings, tolerance analyses, and design documentation supporting qualification and flight release

Participate in PDRs, CDRs, production readiness reviews, and anomaly review boards, providing design assessment and risk evaluation

Perform and document design trade studies balancing precision, mass, cost, and producibility across multiple payload builds

Collaborate with Manufacturing, Test, and Procurement to support repeatable builds, resolve design nonconformances, and improve producibility

Support prototype builds, integration, optical alignment, and troubleshooting activities

Identify design risks impacting constellation delivery and support mitigation planning and execution

Contribute to schedule, cost, and technical planning at the subsystem level

Provide technical guidance and peer review support to junior engineers and designers

Communicate design status, risks, and results through written reports and design reviews

Required Skills:

BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field with 8–10+ years of experience in mechanical design engineering

Direct experience designing spaceflight hardware, including spacecraft and/or payload mechanical assemblies

Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (PTC Creo or SolidWorks) and production drawing release

Strong expertise in GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack-up analysis for precision hardware

Experience owning designs through build, integration, verification, and release for flight hardware

Desired Skills:

Active Secret Clearance

Experience supporting constellation, multi-build, or production space programs

Familiarity with precision opto-mechanical systems and optical alignment considerations

Working knowledge of structural and thermal design drivers impacting mechanical design

Experience collaborating across structural, thermal, optical, electrical, manufacturing, and test teams

Familiarity with NASA 5017, ABMA, and related aerospace standards

Experience developing design trade studies, specifications, and ICDs

Hands-on experience with prototype builds and integration activities

Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multi-disciplinary engineering teams