Automation Mechanical Engineer III (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Automation Mechanical Engineer III (Aerospace): Designing, building, and deploying custom automated manufacturing equipment for space vehicle production with an accent on industrial controls architecture and system integration. Focus on applying engineering first principles to solve complex automation challenges, from conceptual design through commissioning and production ramp-up.

Location: Must be based in Central Texas, USA

Salary: $150,931 – $211,303

Company

A spaceflight and exploration company dedicated to lowering the cost of access to space through reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems.

What you will do

• Collaborate on conceptual automated manufacturing equipment and contribute to controls architecture design.
• Design control system architectures including network topology, I/O distribution, and safety systems.
• Develop offline simulations to validate control logic, robot paths, and cycle times.
• Execute online debugging and commissioning of PLC, HMI, and industrial robot programs.
• Lead factory and site acceptance testing for automated manufacturing systems.
• Create comprehensive controls documentation including sequences of operations and network diagrams.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or granted asylum/refugee status.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, or related engineering field.
• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in industrial controls and automation systems integration.
• Proficiency in PLC and HMI programming.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and review electrical and mechanical drawings.
• Experience with industrial safety system design and safety-rated circuits.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with industrial automation and machine safety standards (IEC 61131, ANSI B11, NFPA 79).
• Experience with industrial automation simulation software (e.g., Plant Simulate, RobotStudio).
• Experience with industrial machine vision systems (e.g., Cognex).
• Proficiency in electrical design using AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match.
• Stock options for all regular employees.
• Paid parental leave and disability coverage.
• Up to 4 weeks of Paid Time Off and 14 company-paid holidays.
• Education Support Program for continuous learning.