Space-Grade Mechanical Engineer: Rotary Actuators

starpath.space; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Starpath seeks a Mechanical Engineer focused on rotary actuators to design, analyze, and qualify mechanisms for space solar arrays. You will own components from concept to flight, selecting motors, gearheads, bearings, and sensors, and coordinating with electrical teams for closed-loop control.

The role requires hands-on design and testing, experience with 3D CAD, GD&T, and tribology in vacuum and radiation environments. Occasional travel and a mission-driven culture await.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of mechanism, actuator, or precision mechanical design experience (internship and academic experience applicable)
• Proficiency with 3D CAD and the ability to produce detailed engineering drawings with GD&T

Responsibilities

• Own rotary actuator designs from concept through design, build, test, and flight.
• Select and integrate motors, gearheads, bearings, slip rings, and sensors; size drivetrains for torque, speed, and life.
• Perform mechanism analysis—torque margin, friction budgets, stiffness, backlash, life; verify via hand calculations and FEA.
• Specify lubrication, materials, surface treatments for vacuum, thermal cycling, and radiation; manage tribology and wear.
• Design and execute mechanism qualification and acceptance testing—functional, life, vibration, thermal-vacuum, torque-margin.
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, and avionics teams on motor drive electronics and closed-loop control.
• Work with manufacturing to design for assembly, alignment, and high-rate production of precision rotating hardware.

Skills

Mechanism design

Actuator design

FEA

Thermal-vacuum

Tribology

CAD

Education

Bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

3D CAD

Job description

Starpath seeks a Mechanical Engineer focused on rotary actuators to design, analyze, and qualify mechanisms for space solar arrays. You will own components from concept to flight, selecting motors, gearheads, bearings, and sensors, and coordinating with electrical teams for closed-loop control.

The role requires hands-on design and testing, experience with 3D CAD, GD&T, and tribology in vacuum and radiation environments. Occasional travel and a mission-driven culture await.