Senior Mechanical Engineer, Spacecraft

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits

Job summary

True Anomaly in Laguna Beach is hiring a Mechanical Engineer to design, analyze, and integrate spacecraft structures and mechanisms for LEO/GEO missions from concept to flight hardware.

You will own 3D CAD models in NX or SolidWorks, enforce GD&T standards, support tests and design reviews, and mentor junior engineers in a fast-paced space startup environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 6-14 years of mechanical design experience in spacecraft/satellite hardware.
• Experience designing structures for launch loads and refurbishment of hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, analysis, and optimization of spacecraft mechanical structures and assemblies.
• Own end-to-end development of spacecraft structural systems through flight hardware delivery.
• Design structures sized for launch loads and compliance with ICD requirements.
• Lead mechanisms design including hinges, deployment systems, and solar/antenna mechanisms.
• Package electronics within spacecraft structures with thermal, EMI, and harness routing considerations.
• Support propulsion mechanical integration and test planning for structures.
• Develop 3D CAD models and drawings with NX and SolidWorks; maintain configuration integrity.
• Enforce GD&T standards and review supplier/teams deliverables.
• Lead design reviews (PDR/CDR/TRR) and manage technical risks.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (structures, thermal, avionics, propulsion).
• Develop and execute tests for structural and mechanisms qualification and on-orbit verification.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical excellence.

Skills

Launch load environments knowledge

Leadership and mentoring

Strong written and verbalCommunication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX (Siemens)

SolidWorks

GD&T standards

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

As a Mechanical Engineer at True Anomaly, you will be at the forefront of designing and developing the next generation of spacecraft that define the future of space security and sustainability. From LEO/GEO satellites to small sat platforms and on-orbit servicing vehicles, you will own the mechanical design of flight systems that operate in some of the most demanding environments known to engineering. This is a rare opportunity to shape vehicle architecture from the ground up — translating mission requirements into flight-ready hardware that safeguards access to space for the U.S. and its allies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design, analysis, and optimization of mechanical structures, mechanisms, and assemblies for LEO/GEO satellites, small sat platforms, and on-orbit servicing vehicles, ensuring designs meet performance, mass, and reliability requirements across the full hardware lifecycle.
• Own end-to-end development of spacecraft structural systems and mechanisms — from concept and trade studies through prototyping, qualification, and flight hardware delivery.
• Design and develop primary and secondary structures sized for launch load environments, including sine burst, random vibration, and shock, in compliance with launch vehicle ICD requirements.
• Lead the design of spacecraft mechanisms and deployment systems, including hinges, hold-down and release mechanisms, solar array drives, antenna pointing systems, and other precision moving assemblies for on-orbit operation.
• Package and integrate electronics assemblies and avionics hardware within the spacecraft structure, accounting for thermal interface requirements, EMI shielding, harness routing, and accessibility for integration and test.
• Support propulsion system integration, including structural mounting, propellant line routing, thruster bracket design, and compliance with propulsion subsystem interface requirements.
• Develop and manage detailed 3D CAD models and drawings for spacecraft components, subsystems, and assemblies using NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks, maintaining configuration integrity throughout the program.
• Define and enforce GD&T standards on piece part and assembly drawings, and review supplier and team deliverables for compliance.
• Lead and present at spacecraft design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and drive resolution of technical risks, open actions, and subsystem interface trades.
• Serve as a key technical interface with structures, thermal, avionics, mechanisms, and propulsion teams to validate designs and ensure compliance with mission and environmental requirements.
• Develop and execute test plans to support structural and mechanisms qualification, acceptance testing, and on-orbit deployment verification.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and spacecraft engineering best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 6 -14 years of professional experience in mechanical design, with direct experience in spacecraft or satellite hardware development.
• Demonstrated experience designing structures for launch load environments, including familiarity with launch vehicle user guides, load cycle definition, and structural margin compliance.
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft mechanisms design, including deployment systems, release mechanisms, or other flight-qualified moving assemblies.
• Experience packaging electronics and avionics hardware within spacecraft structures, with an understanding of thermal interface management, harness routing, and integration constraints.
• Familiarity with propulsion system mechanical integration, including thruster and tank mounting, propellant line design, and interface requirements.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD modeling and drawing creation in NX (Siemens) and/or SolidWorks, including complex spacecraft assemblies and configuration management.
• Deep knowledge of GD&T principles and ability to define, review, and enforce standards across a program.
• Experience leading or significantly contributing to spacecraft hardware development from concept through delivery.
• Experience with configuration management, MES, and PLM tools (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical content clearly to both engineering and leadership audiences.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience specifically in LEO/GEO satellite, small sat, or on-orbit servicing vehicle mechanical design.
• Experience with smallsat or CubeSat platforms, including mass-constrained design, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) component integration, and compressed development schedules.
• Experience with on-orbit servicing or proximity operations vehicles, including docking mechanisms, capture systems, or servicer-to-client structural interfaces.
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods and FEA tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Ansys) and ability to interpret and apply results to drive design decisions.
• Experience leading spacecraft design reviews and managing technical risk across a subsystem or full vehicle.
• Track record of innovative problem-solving under mass, volume, and schedule constraints typical of spacecraft programs.
• Familiarity with relevant aerospace and spacecraft standards (e.g., NASA-STD-5001, GEVS, MIL-SPEC, AIAA S-110) and their application to design and test.
• Experience interfacing directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, and manufacturing teams to support DFM and flight hardware producibility.
• Experience working in a startup or fast-paced environment with compressed development timelines.
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or above), or ability and willingness to obtain one.

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $135,000-$200,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location— Successful candidates will be located near Denver or Colorado Springs. While we observe a hybrid work environment, some work must be done on site.
• Work environment— the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands— the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.