Senior Mechanical Engineer

Kapta Space; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kapta Space in Seattle, WA, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead full lifecycle development of spaceborne radar hardware. You will design rugged PCB systems, avionics enclosures, RF and power systems for harsh environments and manage hardware from requirements to qualification.

The role requires extensive mechanical/thermal design experience, proficiency in OnShape and Ansys, and strong communication across engineering teams. Travel to support payload development may be required.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical, aerospace engineering or related discipline.
• Onsite role in Seattle, WA, with intermittent work travel required (less than 10%).
• 6+ years of mechanical and thermal design or equivalent experience
• Strong skills in CAD design (OnShape) and Finite Element analysis (Ansys)
• Experience with Electronics Packaging and PCB design
• Participate in a culture of technical excellence, innovation and ownership
• Mentor junior engineers
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly present technical findings and collaborate effectively across engineering functions

Responsibilities

• Develop rugged PCBs, avionics enclosures, RF systems, power systems, and mounting solutions for harsh LEO environments.
• Own the hardware delivery from requirements through fabrication, test, and qualification.
• Perform mechanical analysis such as bolt joints, modal, thermal, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Create 3D CAD models and drawings per ASME Y14.5-2018.
• Balance cost, schedule, and performance across fabrication techs.

Skills

CAD design

Finite Element analysis

Electronics packaging

Mentor junior engineers

Strong communication

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

OnShape

Ansys

Job description

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Kapta Space, a VC-funded early-stage startup in Seattle, WA, is breaking new ground in Geospatial Intelligence. Our technology centers around a proven, scalable electronically-steered radar for sophisticated spaceborne applications such as earth observation using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques, as well as enabling advanced defense missions such as target tracking on the ground and in the air. Kapta is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to be responsible for full lifecycle development of electromechanical hardware for a spaceborne radar payload. This position requires a self-driven engineer capable of working independently in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary startup environment. The candidate must have a demonstrated capability to apply advanced technical principles, theories and concepts. The ideal candidate must have the drive and experience to complete projects independently and on time. Kapta Space recognizes that strong candidates come from diverse backgrounds; if you bring relevant experience and the capacity to grow into this role, we encourage you to apply. The position may be structured at a junior or senior level based on the selected candidate’s strengths, with salary and benefits adjusted accordingly.

Right Fit for this Role at Kapta Space

• You can work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to develop rugged printed circuit board systems, avionics enclosures, RF systems, power systems, and mounting solutions for use in harsh environments such as Low Earth Orbit.
• You take “Responsible Engineer” ownership of successful delivery of hardware from requirements definition and design all the way through fabrication, test and qualification.
• You can perform mechanical analysis tasks such as bolted joint analysis, modal vibration analysis, static/dynamic thermal analysis, and tolerance stack-ups.
• You’ve built hardware to pass an environmental qualification test plan (such as SMC-S-16)Generating organized and flexible 3D CAD is second nature to you.
• You’re familiar with making drawings per ASME Y14.5-2018
• You’re familiar with cost, schedule and performance tradeoffs of diverse fabrication technologies such as CNC machining, PCB manufacturing, 3D metal printing, Wire EDM, electroforming or injection molding.
• You can manage schedule and integration requirements for payload development and spacecraft integration to ensure on-time delivery.
• You love to learn.
• Domestic travel may be required.
• Foreign travel possible.

Required Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in mechanical, aerospace engineering or related disciplineOnsite role in Seattle, WA, with intermittent work travel required (less than 10%)
• 6+ years of mechanical and thermal design or equivalent experience
• Strong skills in CAD design (ex: OnShape) and Finite Element analysis (ex: Ansys)
• Experience with Electronics Packaging and PCB design
• Participate in a culture of technical excellence, innovation and ownership
• Mentor junior engineers
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to clearly present technical findings and collaborate effectively across engineering functions

Bonus Experience

• Experience with electronically-steered or phased-array radar systems, including beam-steering, calibration approaches and general space reliability.
• Experience developing RF systems hardware such as waveguide, antennas, or phase-matched cables
• Experience selecting materials such as metal alloys, plastics, finishes, lubricants, insulative materials, films, composites, tapes, adhesives, or electrical components for use in Low Earth Orbit.
• Setting up and running 3-axis or 5-axis CNC milling machines, Wire EDM machines, CMM Metrology Systems, or other advanced manufacturing/testing systems.
• Experience using Thermal Desktop, Ansys Mechanical or Ansys IcePak.
• An active or previously held US Government TS/SCI security clearance is considered a strong plus
• Experience in defense contracting environments or ISR/target-tracking radar missions.
• Prior work in small, fast-iteration aerospace teams.

The estimated salary range for this role reflects base pay only and is influenced by a variety of factors. Actual offers may vary based on—though not limited to—a candidate’s experience, education or training, specialized expertise, and the needs of the business. In addition to base pay, full-time roles include competitive equity grants that reward innovation, impact, and long-term growth. Our total compensation philosophy is designed to recognize excellence while fostering a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and shared success.

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

Kapta Space is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens our team, and broadens our capabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Kapta Space does not engage with external recruiters or agencies without prior written agreement. If you are a recruiter (individual or agency) and wish to engage with Kapta Space for talent acquisition, please email . We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. All final hiring decisions are made by humans.