Mechanical Engineer, Space Optics & Satellites

InvestedintheMission; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision, dental

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

SpaceX in Redmond, WA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer – Optics, Satellites to own end-to-end mechanical and electro-mechanical design for Starlink hardware, including precision pointing mechanisms and imaging payloads from sketch to flight-ready hardware, with hands-on testing as needed.

Responsibilities include design of gimbals, launch locks, test, FEM/structural analysis, integrating PCBA packaging, and collaboration with optical, electrical, thermal, manufacturing and supply chain teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Experience with CAD, mechanical design, analysis, testing, or manufacturing (internships/co-ops applicable).
• Master's degree and 3+ years of related mechanical design experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical, electro-mechanical, and actuator hardware from concept to production and on-orbit operation.
• Design precision mechanisms and actuators (gimbals, fast-steering stages, flexures, launch locks).
• Develop structural designs and load paths for laser terminals or imaging payloads; perform and interpret structural analysis (static, modal, random vibration, shock).
• Integrate electronics into flight hardware: PCBA packaging, thermal/mechanical interfaces, harnessing, connectors.
• Rapidly iterate designs and analyses for mass, stiffness, pointing, cost, manufacturability; drive design for manufacturability and assembly.

Skills

CAD Design

Mechanical design

Structural analysis

GD&T

Hardware testing

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Master's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX CAD

FEA software

Job description

SpaceX in Redmond, WA is seeking a Mechanical Engineer – Optics, Satellites to own end-to-end mechanical and electro-mechanical design for Starlink hardware, including precision pointing mechanisms and imaging payloads from sketch to flight-ready hardware, with hands-on testing as needed.

Responsibilities include design of gimbals, launch locks, test, FEM/structural analysis, integrating PCBA packaging, and collaboration with optical, electrical, thermal, manufacturing and supply chain teams.