Senior Mechanical Engineer - Space Avionics & Imaging

TRL11, Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Health care plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Unlimited PTO

Stock option plan

Job summary

TRL11, Inc. seeks a hands-on Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical development of space avionics and EO imaging systems from requirements through production and sustainment.

You will translate system and thermal, structural, and optical needs into robust mechanical architectures, develop detailed designs, release drawings, select manufacturers, and lead environmental testing to ensure reliability in demanding space environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• At least 5 years of relevant mechanical product-development experience.
• Experience owning complex hardware through design, release, manufacturing, test, and sustainment.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and design release control with tools.
• Experience with thermal management, materials, coatings, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with environmental testing and working with machine shops/contract manufacturers.
• Ability to balance performance, schedule, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Willingness to work hands-on with prototypes and flight hardware.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical development and sustainment of space avionics and electro-optical products.
• Translate system, optical, thermal, structural, environmental, and manufacturing needs into mechanical requirements.
• Develop mechanical architectures, concepts, detailed designs, drawings, and release packages.
• Design enclosures, optical assemblies, structural components, thermal interfaces, and precision electromechanical assemblies.
• Perform tolerance analysis, material selection, fastener selection, interface definition, and design-for-manufacturing reviews.
• Support prototype builds, first-article inspection, assembly development, troubleshooting, and design iteration.
• Identify and source initial components and manufacturing partners.
• Evaluate and qualify machine shops, fabrication vendors, coating suppliers, and other external manufacturers.
• Develop manufacturing processes, assembly instructions, tooling, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Plan and execute system verification testing, including imaging performance and environmental testing.
• Investigate production and field issues, lead root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain released designs through configuration changes, obsolescence, cost reduction, and reliability improvements.
• Provide technical mentorship and support the continued development of TRL11’s mechanical engineering practices.

Skills

Technical judgment

Written and verbal communication

Hands-on with prototypes

Trade-off balancing (performance, cost

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

Onshape

SolidWorks

Finite Element Analysis

Job description

TRL11, Inc. seeks a hands-on Senior Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical development of space avionics and EO imaging systems from requirements through production and sustainment.

You will translate system and thermal, structural, and optical needs into robust mechanical architectures, develop detailed designs, release drawings, select manufacturers, and lead environmental testing to ensure reliability in demanding space environments.