Spacecraft Docking & Mating Mechanisms Engineer

Rendezvous Robotics; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Rendezvous Robotics, based in Golden, Colorado, is seeking a Mid to Senior Level Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer to own docking, capture, and mating systems from concept through qualification and on-orbit operation.

You will lead design, analysis, and testing, collaborate across GNC, systems, electrical, and manufacturing teams, and ensure repeatable performance in vacuum and spaceflight environments. On-site in the Denver metro.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (advanced degree a plus).
• 4+ years in spacecraft or satellite mechanism design.
• Flight-qualified hardware experience preferred.
• Capability with tolerance stack-up analysis and lifecycle for mechanical interfaces.
• Experience designing connector or contact interfaces with reliability in mind.
• Hands-on mechanism development, assembly, and test.
• Proficiency with structural FEA for modal, quasi-static, and random vibration.
• Strong 3D CAD skills with GD&T experience (ASME Y14.5).
• Knowledge of spaceflight materials, fabrication techniques, and clean-room practices.

Responsibilities

• Own docking latch design including capture envelope and misalignment tolerance.
• Own the mating electrical interface and related forces, wear, and durability.
• Manage the alignment budget across approaches and tolerances.
• Oversee load path from docking interface into primary structure.
• Analyze differential thermal expansion and load transfer at joints.
• Design for contamination, debris, and wear tolerance.
• Perform structural analysis of mechanism and joint under vibration loads.
• Develop test plans and support life, wear, vibration, and TVAC campaigns.
• Select materials, coatings, and lubricants for repeated vacuum mating.
• Collaborate with suppliers and produce/verify GD&T drawings.

Skills

Spacecraft mechanisms design

Structural analysis

GD&T / ASME Y14.5

Cross-discipline communication

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Onshape

SolidWorks/NX/Creo

FEA software (e.g., Nastran/ANSYS)

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Rendezvous Robotics, based in Golden, Colorado, is seeking a Mid to Senior Level Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer to own docking, capture, and mating systems from concept through qualification and on-orbit operation.

You will lead design, analysis, and testing, collaborate across GNC, systems, electrical, and manufacturing teams, and ensure repeatable performance in vacuum and spaceflight environments. On-site in the Denver metro.