Mechanical Engineer – Wire Harness

Darwin Recruitment; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Mechanical Engineer – Wire Harness to join a growing spacecraft engineering team developing next-generation satellite systems. The role focuses on designing spacecraft wiring interconnects that integrate avionics, payloads, instrumentation, and Ground Support Equipment into fully functional flight systems.

You will support the complete product lifecycle from concept through production, creating initial wire harness concepts and maturing them to production-ready

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience using CAD software to develop wire harness models and manufacturing drawings.

Responsibilities

• Design spacecraft wire harnesses, cable routing, and support structures using CAD software (Creo).
• Develop and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation, including schematics, flat-pattern drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
• Produce technical reports, presentations, and engineering documentation to support design, analysis, and manufacturing activities.
• Support manufacturing and production teams by communicating design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing non-conformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Design tooling, fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to support spacecraft integration and testing.
• Apply sound engineering judgement to balance performance, manufacturability, reliability, cost, and schedule when making design decisions.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver spacecraft designs, production plans, and test strategies that meet programme objectives for quality, cost, and schedule.

Skills

Wire harness design

CAD proficiency

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

PTC Creo

Windchill

Job description

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer – Wire Harness to join a growing spacecraft engineering team developing next-generation satellite systems. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and developing spacecraft wiring interconnect solutions that integrate avionics, payloads, instrumentation, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) into fully functional flight systems.

You’ll support the complete product lifecycle-from concept development through production-working on the design, development, testing, and manufacture of satellite hardware. This role offers the opportunity to create initial wire harness concepts, mature designs into production-ready solutions, and work hands-on with flight hardware, prototypes, and ground support equipment as part of a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary engineering team.

This is a hybrid position based in Tukwila, WA.

Key Responsibilities

• Design spacecraft wire harnesses, cable routing, and support structures using CAD software (Creo).
• Develop and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation, including schematics, flat-pattern drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
• Produce technical reports, presentations, and engineering documentation to support design, analysis, and manufacturing activities.
• Support manufacturing and production teams by communicating design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing non-conformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Design tooling, fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to support spacecraft integration and testing.
• Apply sound engineering judgement to balance performance, manufacturability, reliability, cost, and schedule when making design decisions.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver spacecraft designs, production plans, and test strategies that meet programme objectives for quality, cost, and schedule.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience using CAD software to develop wire harness models and manufacturing drawings.
• Demonstrated experience developing engineering concepts into detailed production-ready designs.
• Working knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards.
• Experience using PTC Creo and Windchill.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person in accordance with applicable export control regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Creo Schematics.
• Previous experience working on satellite, spacecraft, or launch vehicle systems.
• Knowledge of material selection for spaceflight applications.
• Experience designing mechanical structures and assemblies using CAD software.
• Working knowledge of NASA-STD-8739.4.
• Familiarity with ANSI Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).

What You’ll Bring

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to engineering quality.
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional technical teams.
• A practical, hands-on approach to engineering design and manufacturing support.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced development environment.

Benefits

A comprehensive benefits package is available and includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Employee purchase and wellness programmes.

Callum Day