Senior Mechanisms Engineer

Karmanplus; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Karman+ in Colorado is seeking a senior engineer to drive the design and development of mission-critical spacecraft mechanisms, including thruster gimbals, solar array drives, and deployers. You will shepherd concepts from CAD through build, test, and integration to flight readiness.

The role emphasizes hands-on design, analysis, fabrication, and verification across mission phases, with a focus on minimizing weight, ensuring materials compatibility, and addressing environmental factors.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanism design and hands-on development including design, analysis, build, and testing.

Responsibilities

• Full cycle development of thruster gimbals, solar array drives, and deployers.
• Own material selection and environmental compatibility for space mechanisms.
• Drive manufacturing and assess build vs buy trades.
• Design and procure drive trains for linear and rotational actuators.
• Specify and implement feedback mechanisms.
• Perform finite element analysis and thermal expansion simulations.
• Collaborate with teams to refine requirements from use cases.
• Identify and mitigate risks across mechanical and robotic subsystems and review plans.

Tools

CAD software

FEM tools

Job description

At Karman+ we are building vehicles for beyond earth orbit. Your role would be to drive development of mission critical mechanisms, such as solar array drive actuators, thruster gimbals, and deployers. With your expertise, you will take new and existing designs from CAD to reality, by driving design, analysis, build, test, and integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Full cycle development of thruster gimbals, solar array drives, and deployers.
• Own material selection, and environmental compatibility to ensure successful operation of mechanisms in orbit.
• Drive manufacturing of components and assess build vs buy trades.
• Design and procure drive trains for linear and rotational actuators.
• Specify and implement feedback mechanisms.
• Finite element analysis, stress contact studies, and thermal expansion simulations for relevant mission phases.
• Collaborate closely with other teams to refine requirements, based on their use cases.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with the mechanical and robotic subsystems. Conduct regular reviews to address technical risks and adjust mitigation strategies as needed.

What You Bring

• Equivalent of 5+ years of experience in mechanism design, with a hands-on approach to design, analysis, build, and testing.
• A robust understanding of design considerations for spacecraft mechanisms, such as light weighting, surface coating selection, materials compatibility, galvanic corrosion/dissimilar metals, outgassing, and thermal expansion.
• Proven track record in machining and manufacturing of space mechanisms through a combination of vertical integration and outsourcing.
• Problem-solving mindset— going from theory to hardware by working in a lab to define testing and verify analysis to ensure integrity across mission phases.
• An understanding of thermal and propulsion system design considerations.
• A desire to keep design cycles tight, by following a build and break philosophy.
• Motivation to challenge the status quo, and be an integral part of an elite team.