Staff Mechanical Engineer: Optical Payloads for Space

Darwin Recruitment; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to join a growing Optical Payload Engineering team developing Earth Observation satellite systems. The role blends hands-on engineering with leadership across concept through launch, ensuring payloads meet stringent structural, thermal, and mechanical requirements.

You will drive mechanical integration, collaborate with suppliers, define requirements, and guide design analyses, tests, and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience with satellite hardware from concept to production.
• Experience with optical systems or precision instrumentation.
• US Person per export regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical integration of advanced optical payloads into spacecraft, ensuring compliance with mission performance, structural, and thermal requirements.
• Collaborate with external payload suppliers and internal engineering teams throughout the full development lifecycle, from concept through production and flight integration.
• Define mechanical requirements and evaluate payload designs, analyses, and test results to ensure compatibility with spacecraft systems.
• Develop technical plans that balance programme requirements, engineering risk, cost, quality, and schedule.
• Work within multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver spacecraft designs, manufacturing plans, and integration strategies.
• Design spacecraft mechanical structures, assemblies, and components using CAD software, including Creo.
• Produce and maintain engineering documentation, including part drawings, assembly drawings, bills of materials, and manufacturing documentation.
• Document engineering analyses and design decisions through technical reports and presentations.
• Apply sound engineering judgement to resolve complex design challenges where requirements or data may be incomplete.
• Support manufacturing and production by resolving build issues, reviewing non-conformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Design tooling, fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to support spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.

Skills

Leadership

Creo CAD

GD&T

Mechanical design

Satellite hardware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Creo

Windchill

Job description

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to join a growing Optical Payload Engineering team developing Earth Observation satellite systems. The role blends hands-on engineering with leadership across concept through launch, ensuring payloads meet stringent structural, thermal, and mechanical requirements.

You will drive mechanical integration, collaborate with suppliers, define requirements, and guide design analyses, tests, and documentation.