Mechanical Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; California; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer for a role in a small satellite company focused on national security space. You will design, develop, assemble, integrate and test spacecraft structures, owning hardware through the full lifecycle.

The position requires 5+ years in aerospace mechanics, proficiency in NX/SolidWorks, and experience with NASA GEVS. Hybrid work with every other Friday off; US citizenship and clearance readiness are important.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in a core aerospace mechanical engineering role.
• Experience with spaceflight hardware assembly, integration and testing.
• Proficiency in CAD (NX/SolidWorks) and GD&T.
• Knowledge of structural design, harness routing and material finishes.
• Familiarity with NASA GEVS standard.

Responsibilities

• Execute the mechanical design and development of spacecraft structures and components.
• Create CAD models and drawings; perform part inspections for accuracy.
• Design parts for manufacturability; apply GD&T practices.
• Oversee spacecraft mechanical assembly, integration and testing.
• Develop assembly procedures and document test results.
• Coordinate cross-functional integration of structural subsystems.
• Own hardware from reception through integration, packing and testing.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance to fellow engineers on mechanical design issues.

Skills

CAD modeling

NX

SolidWorks

GD&T

Mechanical design

Structural analysis

Cleanroom assembly

Spacecraft hardware

Education

Bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Simcenter

Abaqus

Altair OptiStruct

Job description

This is a small satellite company focused on national security space, part of one of the world's largest aerospace and defence groups. Their missions include missile warning and Earth observation.

They offer startup pace with the stability of the parent business behind it. The work is broad rather than narrow, so engineers here are not pigeonholed into one corner of their discipline.

This role executes the design, development, assembly, integration and testing of structural assemblies and systems on spacecraft builds. It is hands on across spacecraft mechanical engineering, and you own hardware through the full project lifecycle.

What you will do

• Execute the mechanical design and development of primary and secondary spacecraft structures, including geometry and material selection
• Design parts for manufacturing, applying GD&T practices
• Develop CAD models and engineering drawings, and complete inspections of received parts for accuracy
• Execute spacecraft mechanical assembly, integration and testing, including MGSE design, torquing and staking bolts, interference and fit checks, and cleanroom organisation
• Develop mechanical assembly procedures
• Work with cross functional teams to integrate structural subsystems with other spacecraft subsystems
• Own hardware from part reception and inspection through integration, bus packing, shipping and testing
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements
• Document design processes, test results and system performance
• Provide technical mechanical engineering guidance to fellow engineers

Who this suits

• Someone with 5 or more years in a core mechanical engineering discipline in aerospace or a related field
• Hands on experience with the assembly and integration of space flight hardware
• Experience designing spacecraft primary and secondary structural elements
• Proficiency with CAD software such as NX or SolidWorks, and with engineering drawings and GD&T
• Expertise in structural design, harness routing and systems level mechanical engineering
• Experience specifying and analysing fastener torque values and material finishes such as anodising
• Experience with the NASA GEVS standard
• A bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or a similar field
• US citizenship, with the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance
• Useful extras: spacecraft AI&T in cleanroom environments working to ESD protocols, finite element analysis packages such as Simcenter, Abaqus or Altair Optistruct, design and testing of spacecraft deployable systems and mechanisms, executing and leading spacecraft vibration test campaigns

What you get

Hybrid working with every other Friday off. This role is export controlled and requires US Person status. There is no visa sponsorship. The company is a drug free workplace with post offer testing, and successful candidates complete a conflict of interest assessment.