Senior Mechanical Engineer: Mechanisms, Space

- Create mechanisms ( optical focus, shutters, filter wheels, etc.) for space payloads ranging from small cameras to large telescopes that survive the launch and space environments

- Review literature and parallel applications to inform architecture and selection

- Select, procure, and rigorously test (e.g., environmental, accelerated life) actuators and sensors; this includes architecting test plans, overseeing test setup development, characterizing performance, and reporting findings to inform integration

- Own hardware design from concept to launch, intelligently pacing design maturity with a holistic program view

- Use first principles for every decision and continuously simplify designs

- Communicate pros/cons of system architectures with respect to mechanism design and performance

- Lead subsystem design reviews and provide clear status updates on timelines and technical progress

- Build prototypes, analyze failures, and transition successful designs to flight hardware and low-rate production

- Create excellent technical documentation (presentations, test plans/reports, procedures, drawings, specifications, etc.)

- Ability to obtain and hold U.S. Top Secret security clearance

- 5+ years of mechanism design experience with space hardware and demonstrated track record of success fielding flight hardware

- Mechatronics experience: review datasheets, select components, interface with actuators and sensors, architect and prototype control loops, and facilitate integration into higher level mechanical/electrical assemblies

- Coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for analytical models, data acquisition/automation

- Experience using microcontrollers for prototyping such as Arduino, RasPi, STM, or other

- Experience with high-reliability design, athermalization, and vibration/shock resistance

- Experience with mechanical alignments, kinematic mounting, and qualification test campaigns

- Excellent attention to detail, highly motivated, self-starting, and autonomous

- Organized with ability to define scope and requirements for ambiguous problems

- Hands-on technical project experience (academic, extracurricular, or personal)

- CAD proficiency and ability to create engineering drawings meeting industry standards

- Hands-on fabrication and assembly skills with hand tools, mill, lathe, etc.

- Strong fundamentals in optics, heat transfer, statics, solid mechanics, and materials