Payloads Mechanical Engineer – Spacecraft Integration

Socket.dev; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health coverage

PTO 15–20 days

401(k)

Parental leave

Lunch & snacks

Playa Vista office

Job summary

Apex is seeking a Mechanical Engineer, Payloads to join our satellite engineering team. You will be responsible for the mechanical design, integration, and testing of payload hardware and supporting structures across Apex spacecraft programs.

You will work closely with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and integration teams to develop flight-ready hardware from early design through launch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical hardware.
• Proficiency in CAD software for 3D modeling and drafting (e.g., NX, SolidWorks).
• Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, including structural design, material selection, fasteners, and tolerance analysis.
• Experience developing engineering drawings and applying GD&T.
• Strong hands‑on problem‑solving skills and ability to work in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop mechanical designs and 3D models for payload hardware, mounting structures, brackets, enclosures, and supporting components.
• Own mechanical payload integration from initial concept and interface definition through design, manufacturing, assembly, and test.
• Define and manage mechanical interfaces between payloads, spacecraft structures, and other vehicle subsystems.
• Perform structural analysis and hand calculations to ensure payload hardware meets strength, stiffness, mass, and environmental requirements.
• Optimize designs for mass, manufacturability, assembly, reliability, and spacecraft-level performance.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings, GD&T, interface control documentation, and hardware specifications.
• Evaluate and select appropriate materials, fasteners, coatings, and manufacturing processes for flight hardware.
• Collaborate with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, RF, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to resolve integration challenges.
• Work directly with manufacturing and suppliers to support hardware fabrication and resolve issues.
• Support hands-on assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) of payload and spacecraft hardware.
• Develop and execute environmental testing, including vibration, shock, static, and thermal vacuum testing.
• Troubleshoot mechanical issues during manufacturing, integration, and test and drive problems to resolution.
• Prepare and participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, and other technical reviews.
• Maintain engineering documentation, including design changes, analysis results, test reports, and as-built configurations.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D modeling

GD&T

Structural analysis

Hands-on problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Related field

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

Job description

Apex is seeking a Mechanical Engineer, Payloads to join our satellite engineering team. You will be responsible for the mechanical design, integration, and testing of payload hardware and supporting structures across Apex spacecraft programs.

You will work closely with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and integration teams to develop flight-ready hardware from early design through launch.