Precision Mechanisms Engineer

Cosmic Frontier Labs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Education benefits

Commuter benefits

Wellness programs

One Medical

Job summary

Cosmic Frontier Labs seeks a precision mechanisms engineer to design reliable moving systems for space telescopes that must operate in vacuum and across extreme temperatures for years. You will own actuators, bearings, flexures, and sensors, and plan life testing and qualification to mitigate real failure modes.

Successful candidates will have a strong mechanical or aerospace background and proven experience designing stages, deployables, latches, or rotating assemblies with tight tolerances.

Qualifications

• Strong education in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with experience designing precision mechanisms for aerospace or high reliability hardware.
• Experience designing moving systems such as stages, deployables, latches, or rotating assemblies with tight tolerances and repeatability.
• Understanding of mechanisms in vacuum and thermal extremes, including materials selection, lubrication strategies, and failure modes.
• Hands-on experience planning and executing life testing, qualification testing, and root cause driven iteration.

Responsibilities

• Design and build precision mechanisms such as focus stages, filter wheels, shutters, deployables, and latches.
• Own trades in actuators, bearings, flexures, and sensors with a focus on reliability, repeatability, and testability.
• Plan and execute life testing, lubrication and materials choices, and qualification focused on real failure modes.

Skills

Precision mechanism design

Vacuum & thermal tolerance

Life testing & qualification

Test planning & execution

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Actuators

Bearings

Flexures

Sensors

Job description

Cosmic Frontier’s mission is to dramatically expand access to high performance space telescopes, democratize the scientific process, and build tools for exploring the Universe.

Cosmic Frontier team members own the full lifecycle of spaceflight hardware and software, from early architecture through flight. We build and fly real hardware. The systems you build will go to orbit within the next two years.

Role Description:

We’re looking for a precision mechanisms engineer to design reliable moving systems for space telescopes that must work in vacuum, across thermal extremes, for years.

If you love building mechanisms that work every time in the hardest conditions, we want to talk.

What you’ll do:

• Design and build precision mechanisms such as focus stages, filter wheels, shutters, deployables, and latches
• Own trades in actuators, bearings, flexures, and sensors with a focus on reliability, repeatability, and testability
• Plan and execute life testing, lubrication and materials choices, and qualification focused on real failure modes

What Success looks like in the first 90 days:

• Propose the v1 mechanism architectures for the next build, including interfaces and test approach
• Build or upgrade a life test or characterization setup that produces actionable data quickly
• Retire at least one high risk mechanism unknown with a focused experiment or prototype

Required qualifications:

• Strong education background in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, with extensive experience designing precision mechanisms for aerospace or high reliability hardware
• Demonstrated experience designing moving systems such as stages, deployables, latches, or rotating assemblies with tight tolerance and repeatability requirements
• Strong understanding of mechanisms in vacuum and thermal extremes, including materials selection, lubrication strategies, and failure modes
• Hands on experience planning and executing life testing, qualification testing, and root cause driven iteration

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with spaceflight hardware or systems designed for long duration vacuum operation
• Background in actuators, bearings, flexures, sensors, and motion control for precision applications
• Experience building and running custom test rigs to rapidly retire technical risk
• Comfortable operating in a fast paced startup environment with high ownership and minimal process
• Medical, dental, vision, reproductive healthcare, HSA/FSA, life and disability insurance, One Medical.
• 401(k), education benefits, cell phone and Wi-Fi reimbursement, one-time work-from-home stipend, commuter benefits, wellness programs.

Export control:

Due to the nature of the products and information handled in this role, employment is restricted to U.S. Persons as defined by U.S. export control laws.

Salary Band:

• L4: $120,000 – $160,000
• L5: $170,000 – $250,000

Diversity and Inclusion:

We encourage anyone who is excited about this role to apply, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications. We value builders with strong judgment, high ownership, and a track record of making complex systems work in the real world.

Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Cosmic Frontier Labs is a Program and Operating Division of the Renaissance Philanthropy Fund. Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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