Senior Mechanisms Engineer

Karman+; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Karman+ is seeking an experienced mechanical design engineer to lead development of mission-critical space mechanisms. You will drive design from CAD to reality, performing analysis, build, test, and integration for thruster gimbals, solar array drives, and deployers.

Join a focused team tackling advanced propulsion and mechanisms in a demanding orbital environment. Bring 5+ years of hands-on experience and a passion for rigorous hardware verification in a high-stakes setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanism design with hands-on design, analysis, build, and test.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft mechanisms: light-weighting, coatings, materials compatibility, outgassing, and thermal expansion.
• Proven machining/manufacturing experience of space mechanisms through vertical integration and outsourcing.
• Problem-solving mindset: translate theory to hardware via lab testing and verification across mission phases.
• Knowledge of thermal and propulsion system design considerations.
• Desire to iterate quickly using a build-and-break approach.
• Motivation to contribute to an elite spacecraft team.

Responsibilities

• Full cycle development of thruster gimbals, solar array drives, and deployers.
• Own material selection, and environmental compatibility for orbit operation.
• 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.
• Perform FEA, stress contact studies, and thermal expansion simulations for mission phases.
• Collaborate with other teams to refine requirements from their use cases.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks for mechanical and robotic subsystems; conduct regular risk reviews.

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.

The Role

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.