Research Assistant (Mechanical/Aerospace Engineer – CubeSat Project)

United Arab Emirates University, Department of Family Medicine; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 335,000 - 469,000; Full time

Job summary

United Arab Emirates University invites a Mechanical/Aerospace Engineer to support a one-year CubeSat mission in Abu Dhabi. You will perform thermal analysis, CAD modeling and drawings, structural analysis, and Assembly, Integration and Testing with student teams.

The role focuses on designing robust spacecraft structures, ensuring manufacturability, documentation, and readiness for environmental testing and flight, in collaboration with subsystems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD modeling and engineering drawings.
• Experience performing thermal and structural/finite-element analysis for aerospace or precision mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of materials, fasteners, tolerances, manufacturing processes, and design for assembly.
• Comfortable working in a lab or cleanroom and supporting hands-on satellite assembly, integration, and test.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis, CAD modeling and drawings, and structural analysis for CubeSat hardware.
• Support Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) of the satellite with subsystem teams and students.
• Ensure spacecraft structure and mechanical interfaces are robust, manufacturable, documented, and ready for environmental testing and flight.

Skills

3D CAD modelling

Engineering drawings

Thermal analysis

Structural analysis

Aerospace engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

NASTRAN

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking a Mechanical/Aerospace Engineer to support a one-year university CubeSat mission. The role covers thermal analysis, CAD modeling and drawings, structural analysis, and Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) of the satellite, in collaboration with subsystem teams and students. The engineer will ensure the spacecraft structure and mechanical interfaces are robust, manufacturable, documented, and ready for environmental testing and flight.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD modeling and engineering drawings.
• Experience performing thermal and structural/finite-element analysis for aerospace or precision mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of materials, fasteners, tolerances, manufacturing processes, and design for assembly.
• Comfortable working in a lab or cleanroom and supporting hands-on satellite assembly, integration, and test.

Preferred Qualification

• CubeSat/spacecraft mechanical design or AIT experience (university or industry).
• Experience with thermal and structural analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with vibration, thermal-vacuum, and other spacecraft environmental tests.
• Experience preparing CAD models, drawings, interface documents, test procedures, and reports.
• Mentoring experience with student teams or junior engineers.