Senior Spacecraft Mechanisms & Actuators Engineer - Equity

Apex - Satellite Platforms; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Apex

Company-paid health care

PTO 15–20 days + holidays

401(k) matching

Parental leave

Catered lunch

Office in Playa Vista

Job summary

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a highly technical Mechanisms & Actuators Engineer to develop spacecraft electromechanical systems, focusing on SADAs, reaction wheels, and high-reliability mechanisms.

You will own design, integration, testing, and qualification from architecture through flight delivery, collaborating with avionics, controls, and production teams in a fast-paced space environment. You will join a mission-driven team building scalable hardware for space vehicles, with a

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechatronics, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience developing electromechanical systems, mechanisms, rotary actuators, for aerospace or other high-reliability applications.
• Experience owning or contributing to the development and delivery of long-life electromechanical actuators for space vehicles.
• Strong understanding of motors, bearings, geartrains, and rotating systems.
• Hands-on experience with mechanism integration, testing, troubleshooting, and hardware bring-up.
• Familiarity with environmental qualification testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, shock, and lifetime testing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to debug complex system-level issues.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced development environments with high ownership and autonomy.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Nice-to-haves: SADAs, reaction wheels, control moment gyroscopes, gimbals or deployment systems; motor driver electronics and embedded control; rotor dynamics analysis; long-duration space missions; spacecraft environmental standards.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, assemble, and test spacecraft electromechanical systems including SADAs, reaction wheels, deployment actuators, and other high-reliability mechanisms.
• Own actuator and mechanism development from concept through qualification and flight delivery.
• Support architecture development, trade studies, component selection, and performance analysis for flight mechanisms and motor-driven systems.
• Collaborate closely with avionics, controls, GNC, and software teams on actuator electrical, mechanical, and controls interfaces.
• Define and execute qualification and life cycle testing for high reliability rotary actuators.
• Support mechanism integration, hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, and environmental testing including vibe, TVAC, and life cycle testing campaigns.
• Drive root cause investigations and failure analysis activities related to actuator or mechanism performance.
• Develop manufacturing, assembly, and test strategies for scalable spacecraft production.
• Partner with suppliers and internal teams on component development, qualification, procurement, and hardware validation.
• Contribute to spacecraft-level integration efforts and support flight hardware through build, test, and launch campaigns.
• Create and maintain design documentation, requirements, interface definitions, test plans, and verification reports.

Skills

Electromechanical systems

Actuator development

System integration

Vibration testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechatronics

Tools

SADA knowledge

Motor drive electronics

Rotor dynamics

Gimbals/deployment systems

Environmental testing

Job description

Apex Technology, Inc. is seeking a highly technical Mechanisms & Actuators Engineer to develop spacecraft electromechanical systems, focusing on SADAs, reaction wheels, and high-reliability mechanisms.

You will own design, integration, testing, and qualification from architecture through flight delivery, collaborating with avionics, controls, and production teams in a fast-paced space environment. You will join a mission-driven team building scalable hardware for space vehicles, with a