Founding Mechanical Engineer — Space Robotics

General Astronautics; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

General Astronautics is building autonomous dexterous robotic arms for orbital inspection, repair, and assembly. We are seeking a Founding Mechanical Engineer to own the design and development of our robotic hardware from concept through flight-ready systems.

This role covers architecture, detailed design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and qualification of precision mechanisms, joints, end effectors, structures, and electromechanical assemblies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 2+ years designing, building, analyzing and testing complex mechanical or electromechanical hardware.
• Proficiency in CAD software (NX, CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks or equivalent).
• Strong fundamentals in machine design, structural sizing, mechanism design and electromechanical integration.
• Experience with hand calculations, tolerance analysis and FEA.
• Proficiency with GD&T and ASME Y14.5 engineering drawing standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, development and testing of robotic hardware for autonomous microgravity operations.
• Own hardware from concept through detailed design, prototyping, qualification, integration and deployment.
• Design precision mechanisms, joints, end effectors, actuator interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies for vacuum, vibration, thermal cycling and microgravity.
• Perform hand calculations, tolerance analyses and FEA to validate designs.
• Define requirements, loads, interfaces, error budgets and verification plans at multiple levels.
• Collaborate with vendors and manufacturing partners to source components, fabricate parts and assemble flight hardware.

Skills

Machine design

Structural sizing

Mechanism design

Electromechanical integration

Hand calculations

Tolerance analysis

FEA

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NX

CATIA

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

General Astronautics is building autonomous dexterous robotic arms for orbital inspection, repair, and assembly. We are seeking a Founding Mechanical Engineer to own the design and development of our robotic hardware from concept through flight-ready systems.

This role covers architecture, detailed design, analysis, prototyping, testing, and qualification of precision mechanisms, joints, end effectors, structures, and electromechanical assemblies.