Staff Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Staff Mechanical Engineer (Aerospace): Designing and qualifying deployable and actuated mechanical systems for spacecraft with an accent on solar array deployables and release mechanisms. Focus on high-reliability design, single-point-failure management, and transferring prototypes to constellation-scale production.

Location: Hybrid; Must be based in San Jose, CA (3 days per week on-site). Must be a U.S. person per ITAR/EAR requirements.

Salary: $202,000 - $223,000

Company

End-to-end Space Systems Provider designing, building, and operating LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical Earth Intelligence.

What you will do

• Own the design, qualification, and sustainment of solar array deployables, SADA, HDRMs, hinges, dampers, and latches.
• Lead technical trades on deployable architectures and make-vs-buy decisions to balance reliability and cost.
• Perform rigorous mechanism analysis, including torque/force margins, kinematics, and tribological studies.
• Manage single-point-failure risks and execute qualification campaigns including TVAC, random vibration, and shock testing.
• Define organizational mechanism design standards and mentor junior mechanical engineers through PDR and CDR reviews.
• Drive hardware from initial prototype builds to constellation-scale production.

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanism design, with at least 5 years in the space industry.
• Deep expertise in solar array deployables, SADA, HDRMs, or precision mechanisms.
• Expert command of SolidWorks, GD&T, and managing mass and torque budgets.
• Proven track record of qualifying single-point-failure mechanisms.
• Must be a U.S. person (Citizen, Green Card holder, etc.) to conform to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR/EAR).

Nice to have

• Successful flight heritage of designed deployable or actuated hardware.
• Direct SADA design experience involving motor selection, bearings, and slip rings.
• Experience qualifying mechanisms to NASA-STD-5017 or ECSS standards.
• Experience managing external vendors and contract manufacturers for flight hardware.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive equity grants and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Three weeks paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, and unlimited sick time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Fast-paced environment located in the heart of Silicon Valley.