Job Requirements
Albuquerque, NM
Secret Polygraph Unspecified
Career Level not specified
$160,000 - $240,000
Job Description
Position Title: Lead Mechanical Engineer - Space Systems
Work Location: Albuquerque, NM
• Clearance Requirement: Active Top-Secret security clearance is required.
• Employment Type: Full-time
About Us: BlackVe, Inc. is a mission-first, dynamic, and innovative national security-focused company focused on emerging space and advanced technologies dedicated to pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence in support of our government customers.
Job Description:
BlackVe is seeking a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer to lead a team in the design, analysis, integration, and testing of spacecraft and space-related hardware. This position will be responsible for complex mechanical and structural engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle-from requirements definition and preliminary design through fabrication, integration, qualification, and delivery.
The ideal candidate brings a mastery of structural analysis, mechanical design, materials selection, and environmental testing. This individual will work closely with systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to develop reliable, high-performance solutions that meet demanding mission requirements. This is a fully on-site position based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This is a fully on-site position based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:
Structural Analysis
• Perform detailed static, modal, vibration, and thermal analyses of spacecraft structures, fasteners, sub-systems, components, and moving mechanical assemblies.
• Conduct finite element analysis to evaluate stress, stiffness, deformation, vibration response, thermal effects, and structural margins.
• Assess on-orbit hardware performance and launch survivability under random vibration, static loads, and thermally-induced loading conditions.
• Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, margins of safety, and reduction models for launch vehicle payload data packages.
• Oversee the work product quality of other mechanical engineers.
Mechanical Design and Integration
• Lead the design and integration of spacecraft mechanical subsystems, structures, mechanisms, and associated hardware.
• Develop designs that satisfy performance, mass, envelope, manufacturability, reliability, and mission requirements.
• Create and review engineering drawings, CAD models, interface definitions, bills of materials, and configuration-controlled documentation.
• Ensure mechanical designs are compatible with electrical, thermal, optical, propulsion, and other spacecraft systems.
• Support design reviews, including preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, test readiness reviews, and production readiness reviews.
• Identify technical risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Requirements Interpretation and Verification
• Translate customer, system, and mission requirements into clear mechanical and structural engineering specifications.
• Develop verification approaches and ensure requirements are traceable through analysis, inspection, demonstration, or testing.
• Evaluate proposed design changes for technical, schedule, cost, and system-level impacts.
• Prepare and maintain verification documentation, compliance evidence, and engineering rationale.
• Support customer discussions and technical reviews related to mechanical performance and verification.
Material and Process Selection
• Evaluate and recommend materials for structural and mechanical components based on strength, stiffness, fatigue life, thermal performance, durability, mass, manufacturability, and environmental compatibility.
• Consider space-environment factors such as vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, contamination, corrosion, and outgassing.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and quality teams to define appropriate fabrication, finishing, inspection, and assembly processes.
• Support material review boards, nonconformance investigations, and disposition of mechanical hardware issues.
Test Planning and Execution
• Develop qualifications, acceptance, and development test plans for spacecraft structures and mechanical hardware.
• Define test objectives, instrumentation, configurations, procedures, success criteria, and data requirements.
• Oversee vibration, shock, thermal, structural load, and other environmental testing.
• Analyze test data and correlate results with analytical models.
• Investigate anomalies, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare test reports and present results to internal teams, customers, and program leadership.
Technical Leadership and Collaboration
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to mechanical engineers, designers, and technicians.
• Coordinate engineering activities with systems engineering, manufacturing, integration and test, quality, supply chain, and program management.
• Work directly with suppliers and external partners to resolve technical and manufacturing issues.
• Support proposal development, technical estimates, schedules, trade studies, and program planning.
• Promote disciplined engineering practices, configuration control, documentation, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, personal ownership, accountability, and self-learning.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant mechanical, structural, aerospace, or space-systems engineering experience; an advanced degree may substitute for a portion of the experience.
• Experience designing full spacecraft systems and seeing those designs through manufacturing, launch, and operations
• Experience performing static, modal, launch vibration, and radiation thermal analyses.
• Proficiency with finite element analysis tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or comparable software. ANSYS is preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and mechanical design tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or comparable software. SolidWorks is preferred.
• Independently develops engineering drawings, properly performing GD&T
• Experience planning and supporting modal, vibration, shock, thermal, and static loads testing.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and develop documented verification approaches.
• Strong technical writing, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead engineering activities and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience supporting spacecraft development, satellite production, payload integration, and launch integration.
• Experience with composite structures in aerospace applications.
• Familiarity with NASA, Department of Defense, or other government space-system standards and requirements.
• Experience correlating analytical models with environmental test results.
• Familiarity with engineering automation tools, configuration management, and engineering change-control systems.
• Demonstrated experience and success as a technical lead, supervising other engineers with responsibility for quality of their work product
Work Environment:
• Work is performed primarily in office, laboratory, clean-room, and manufacturing environments.
• The position may require occasional travel to customers, supplier, or testing locations.
• Some activities may require working outside normal business hours to support critical integration or test events.
• The employee must be able to work safely around spacecraft hardware, laboratory equipment, and manufacturing operations.
Location and Travel Requirements:
• This position is based in Albuquerque, NM, with occasional travel to other company locations or partner facilities as needed.
Why Join Us:
• Mission first-Always. We prioritize delivering results that directly support space and intelligence community programs and national security objectives.
• We operate as one team, grounded in trust, accountability, and open collaboration, where individuals actively support one another to achieve shared mission success.
• Work on high-impact programs across space, ISR, and advanced technology domains supporting DoD and IC customers.
• Ownership-driven culture is founded in teamwork where every employee is an owner, with equity participation and a direct stake in our success.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including flexible time off; 401(k) with company contribution
• Constant opportunities for program and professional impact.
ITAR / EAR Requirements:
This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(A)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable.
How to Apply:
Please submit your resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest on the form below. If there are any issues with applying or inquiries, please email to hiring@blackve.us.
Work Location: Albuquerque, NM
• Clearance Requirement: Active Top-Secret security clearance is required.
• Employment Type: Full-time
About Us: BlackVe, Inc. is a mission-first, dynamic, and innovative national security-focused company focused on emerging space and advanced technologies dedicated to pushing the boundaries of engineering excellence in support of our government customers.
Job Description:
BlackVe is seeking a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer to lead a team in the design, analysis, integration, and testing of spacecraft and space-related hardware. This position will be responsible for complex mechanical and structural engineering activities throughout the product lifecycle-from requirements definition and preliminary design through fabrication, integration, qualification, and delivery.
The ideal candidate brings a mastery of structural analysis, mechanical design, materials selection, and environmental testing. This individual will work closely with systems, electrical, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to develop reliable, high-performance solutions that meet demanding mission requirements. This is a fully on-site position based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This is a fully on-site position based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Key Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:
Structural Analysis
• Perform detailed static, modal, vibration, and thermal analyses of spacecraft structures, fasteners, sub-systems, components, and moving mechanical assemblies.
• Conduct finite element analysis to evaluate stress, stiffness, deformation, vibration response, thermal effects, and structural margins.
• Assess on-orbit hardware performance and launch survivability under random vibration, static loads, and thermally-induced loading conditions.
• Document analysis methods, assumptions, results, margins of safety, and reduction models for launch vehicle payload data packages.
• Oversee the work product quality of other mechanical engineers.
Mechanical Design and Integration
• Lead the design and integration of spacecraft mechanical subsystems, structures, mechanisms, and associated hardware.
• Develop designs that satisfy performance, mass, envelope, manufacturability, reliability, and mission requirements.
• Create and review engineering drawings, CAD models, interface definitions, bills of materials, and configuration-controlled documentation.
• Ensure mechanical designs are compatible with electrical, thermal, optical, propulsion, and other spacecraft systems.
• Support design reviews, including preliminary design reviews, critical design reviews, test readiness reviews, and production readiness reviews.
• Identify technical risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Requirements Interpretation and Verification
• Translate customer, system, and mission requirements into clear mechanical and structural engineering specifications.
• Develop verification approaches and ensure requirements are traceable through analysis, inspection, demonstration, or testing.
• Evaluate proposed design changes for technical, schedule, cost, and system-level impacts.
• Prepare and maintain verification documentation, compliance evidence, and engineering rationale.
• Support customer discussions and technical reviews related to mechanical performance and verification.
Material and Process Selection
• Evaluate and recommend materials for structural and mechanical components based on strength, stiffness, fatigue life, thermal performance, durability, mass, manufacturability, and environmental compatibility.
• Consider space-environment factors such as vacuum, thermal cycling, radiation, contamination, corrosion, and outgassing.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and quality teams to define appropriate fabrication, finishing, inspection, and assembly processes.
• Support material review boards, nonconformance investigations, and disposition of mechanical hardware issues.
Test Planning and Execution
• Develop qualifications, acceptance, and development test plans for spacecraft structures and mechanical hardware.
• Define test objectives, instrumentation, configurations, procedures, success criteria, and data requirements.
• Oversee vibration, shock, thermal, structural load, and other environmental testing.
• Analyze test data and correlate results with analytical models.
• Investigate anomalies, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare test reports and present results to internal teams, customers, and program leadership.
Technical Leadership and Collaboration
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to mechanical engineers, designers, and technicians.
• Coordinate engineering activities with systems engineering, manufacturing, integration and test, quality, supply chain, and program management.
• Work directly with suppliers and external partners to resolve technical and manufacturing issues.
• Support proposal development, technical estimates, schedules, trade studies, and program planning.
• Promote disciplined engineering practices, configuration control, documentation, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, personal ownership, accountability, and self-learning.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant mechanical, structural, aerospace, or space-systems engineering experience; an advanced degree may substitute for a portion of the experience.
• Experience designing full spacecraft systems and seeing those designs through manufacturing, launch, and operations
• Experience performing static, modal, launch vibration, and radiation thermal analyses.
• Proficiency with finite element analysis tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, Abaqus, or comparable software. ANSYS is preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and mechanical design tools such as Creo, SolidWorks, CATIA, or comparable software. SolidWorks is preferred.
• Independently develops engineering drawings, properly performing GD&T
• Experience planning and supporting modal, vibration, shock, thermal, and static loads testing.
• Ability to interpret technical requirements and develop documented verification approaches.
• Strong technical writing, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead engineering activities and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI security clearance.
• Experience supporting spacecraft development, satellite production, payload integration, and launch integration.
• Experience with composite structures in aerospace applications.
• Familiarity with NASA, Department of Defense, or other government space-system standards and requirements.
• Experience correlating analytical models with environmental test results.
• Familiarity with engineering automation tools, configuration management, and engineering change-control systems.
• Demonstrated experience and success as a technical lead, supervising other engineers with responsibility for quality of their work product
Work Environment:
• Work is performed primarily in office, laboratory, clean-room, and manufacturing environments.
• The position may require occasional travel to customers, supplier, or testing locations.
• Some activities may require working outside normal business hours to support critical integration or test events.
• The employee must be able to work safely around spacecraft hardware, laboratory equipment, and manufacturing operations.
Location and Travel Requirements:
• This position is based in Albuquerque, NM, with occasional travel to other company locations or partner facilities as needed.
Why Join Us:
• Mission first-Always. We prioritize delivering results that directly support space and intelligence community programs and national security objectives.
• We operate as one team, grounded in trust, accountability, and open collaboration, where individuals actively support one another to achieve shared mission success.
• Work on high-impact programs across space, ISR, and advanced technology domains supporting DoD and IC customers.
• Ownership-driven culture is founded in teamwork where every employee is an owner, with equity participation and a direct stake in our success.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including flexible time off; 401(k) with company contribution
• Constant opportunities for program and professional impact.
ITAR / EAR Requirements:
This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(A)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorization from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable.
How to Apply:
Please submit your resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest on the form below. If there are any issues with applying or inquiries, please email to hiring@blackve.us.
group id: 91172463