Senior Mechanical Engineer

CesiumAstro; München; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CesiumAstro develops space-grade communication hardware and seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to shape antenna platforms, subsystems, and interfaces from concept through flight. You will apply mechanical and thermal analyses, drive design trades, and ensure manufacturability for space hardware.

Responsibilities include detailed CAD/FEA work, packaging, environmental qualification, and in-orbit support, plus presenting design reviews to customers and executive teams.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university
• 5+ years of space antenna and payload mechanical engineering experience; Master’s may count as two years
• Experience with architectural trade studies including parametric and first-order cost/physical analysis
• Proficient with CAD/FEA tools (Ansys Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation, Thermal Desktop)
• Experience with CNC manufacturing and GD&T
• Knowledge of aerospace materials and space thermal architecture; familiarity with orbital thermal control
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from concept to space flight.
• Perform architecture trades and analyses for payloads.
• Oversee manufacturing, testing, and qualification processes.
• Present design reviews to customers and executives

Skills

Space antenna mech eng

CAD/FEA experience

Architectural trade studies

EMI/EMC familiarity

Orbital thermal control

Communication skills

Education

BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Ansys Mechanical

SolidWorks Simulation

Thermal Desktop

CNC manufacturing

GD&T

Job description

At CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands‑on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward‑thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Senior Mechanical Engineer to our Mechanical Engineering team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing space hardware for leading‑edge communications satellites, we would like to hear from you.

In this position, you will be responsible for mechanical design aspects of Cesium phased array antennas, subsystems, and interfaces through all phases of the development process. The ideal candidate will be versatile and proficient in mechanical analysis, electronics packaging, computer‑aided design (CAD), mechanical interfaces, thermal architecture, spacecraft propulsion, deployable and actuated structures, and environmental qualification of spacecraft antennas and payloads. You will be responsible for mechanical designs from concept through space flight including requirements definition, architecture trades and block diagrams, analysis, manufacturing, testing, qualification, and in‑orbit support.

The successful candidate will also present engineering design review materials to our customers and executive team, as well as participate in proposal‑writing efforts. As such, excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university or institution
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in space antenna and payload mechanical engineering to include electronics packaging, thermal, shock, vibration, stress dynamics, and cost. A Master's degree may count as two years of experience.
• Experience in conducting architectural trade studies including parametric and first‑order cost and physical analysis
• Experience with professional mechanical and FEA CAD tools, such as Ansys Mechanical, SolidWorks Simulation, and Thermal Desktop
• Experience with CNC manufacturing and GD&T
• Experience with advanced aerospace manufacturing and materials including sandwich panels and carbon composites, OR experience with high‑reliability deployment mechanisms for space applications (including deployment, HDRMs, power delivery, etc.).
• Proficiency in detailed mechanical design (3D CAD, drawings, etc.)
• Experience designing and manufacturing mechanisms and mechanical actuators
• Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques
• Familiarity with satellite thermal architectures including heat pipes, phase change materials, contact resistance, and surface finishes as well as fundamental understandings of orbital thermal control in a LEO environment.
• Familiarity with launch and LEO environments (thermal, shock, vibe, radiation, etc)
• Familiarity with design for test, manufacturability, assembly, and reliability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Python, C++, or other programming languages
• Experience with large, deployable antenna arrays which drive your vision for the next generation of on‑orbit communications and sensor arrays.
• Robotics and control systems experience
• PCBA experience

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills. Please be aware that many roles will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including new starter's nationality, any previous or dual nationalities held, place of birth and country of residence may limit those roles that you can perform for the organization. Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.