Mechanisms Engineer - Solar Arrays

Dcubed; Germering; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing program

Pension plan (ETF)

Modern work equipment

Office environment and amenities

Hybrid work arrangements

Professional development budget

Company swag

Job summary

Dcubed is hiring a Mechanisms Engineer – Solar Arrays to design, prototype, test, and qualify deployment hardware for space power systems. You will move from CAD models and FEM analyses to the workshop and test lab, turning ambitious ideas into reliable flight hardware.

With ownership, speed, and a passion for making space mechanisms work where repair is impossible, you will contribute to robust mechanisms, materials selection, tolerancing, and rigorous testing while collaborating across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 5+ years in mechanism design, aerospace or precision mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of space mechanisms (bearings, gears, springs, hinges, release systems).
• Expert CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred) and FEM tools familiarity (ANSYS preferred).
• Experience with DfM/DFa and rapid prototyping methods (3D printing, CNC, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze and develop space-qualified deployment mechanisms and motion systems from concept to flight hardware.
• Provide expert guidance on materials, lubrication, coatings, thermal effects and tolerancing.
• Generate production-ready drawings and support prototyping and manufacturing activities.
• Ensure integration with structural, electrical and deployment subsystems.
• Define and execute development, qualification and acceptance test campaigns (vibration, vacuum, lifetime).
• Investigate anomalies, perform root-cause analysis and implement design improvements.
• Maintain engineering documentation including CAD models, drawings, specifications and test procedures.

Skills

CAD proficiency

FEM analysis

Materials knowledge

GD&T

Prototype fabrication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

Job description

As Mechanisms Engineer – Solar Arrays (f/m/d), you will be responsible for the deployment systems at the heart of dcubed's solar arrays. You will design, prototype, test, and qualify the hardware that allows spacecraft to generate power once they reach orbit.

We are looking for an engineer with a builder's mindset: someone who can move seamlessly from CAD models and FEM analyses to the workshop and test lab, turning ambitious ideas into reliable flight hardware. If you are motivated by ownership, speed, and the challenge of making space mechanisms work where repair is impossible, you'll fit right in.

Responsibilities

• Mechanism Design & Development: Design, analyze, and develop space-qualified deployment mechanisms and motion systems for Solar Array products, from concept through flight hardware delivery.
• Technical Expertise: Provide expert guidance on mechanism design, materials selection, lubrication, coatings, thermal effects, motorization margins, tolerancing, and reliability for space applications.
• Manufacturing & Prototyping: Apply Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Assembly (DfA) principles, generate production-ready technical drawings, and support rapid prototyping and manufacturing activities using additive manufacturing and conventional machining techniques.
• System Integration: Ensure seamless integration of mechanisms with structural, electrical, and deployment subsystems while balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule requirements.
• Testing & Qualification: Define, support, and execute development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns, including deployment, vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, and lifetime testing.
• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement: Investigate anomalies, perform root-cause analysis, and implement design improvements to enhance mechanism performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Documentation: Maintain engineering documentation including CAD models, technical drawings, specifications, analyses, test procedures, and qualification reports.

Candidate requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanism design, aerospace engineering, precision mechanical systems, or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of space mechanisms, including bearings, gears, springs, hinges, release systems, lubrication, coatings, wear mechanisms, thermal effects, and motorization sizing and margins.
• Expert-level CAD proficiency (SolidWorks preferred) and familiarity with FEM tools (ANSYS preferred).
• Strong understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, GD&T, tolerancing, and technical drawing generation.
• Experience applying Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Assembly (DfA) principles.
• Hands-on experience with prototyping and fabrication methods including 3D printing, milling, turning, laser cutting, CNC machining, and hardware assembly.
• Familiarity with space qualification methods and standards, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, deployment, and lifetime testing.
• Knowledge of ECSS, NASA, or equivalent aerospace standards is highly desirable.
• Eligibility to work in Germany.

What we offer

We want you to feel welcome and have the best possible tools for your work here at Dcubed. Therefore, we have selected a set of benefits to support your work days and everyday life, today and longer term.

• Wellbeing: EGYM Wellpass, recovery toolkit
• ETF-based pension program offering 30-50% company contribution
• Modern work equipment, based on your role and needs: laptop, phone, headphones, electric desk, wide screens, state-of-the-art workshop equipment
• Office environment: kitchen and break areas; lunch offering, beverages & snacks at the office; small exercise area, Space Bar
• Work-life balance & activities: hybrid work arrangements (location and working hours), company events and trips, launch partiesProfessional development: 70-20-10 thinking, training budget, training library, regular performance reviews
• Company swag: hoodie, t-shirt, stickers, water bottle, notebook etc.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. and/or Germany export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. and/or Germany export controls.

Please note: Dcubed does not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies and will not pay fees for any candidates we have not requested.