Staff Mechanical Engineer - Payloads

Blacksky Holdings LLC; Tukwila (WA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

PTO and holidays

401(k) and Roth

Employee stock purchase program

Professional development

Job summary

BlackSky Holdings LLC seeks a Staff Mechanical Engineer for Optical Payloads to lead design and integration of satellite payloads from concept to production. You will define requirements, collaborate with partners, and ensure mechanical integrity in structures and thermal paths.

You will mentor teams, develop concepts, and mature designs with Creo, Windchill, and standard aerospace practices to meet rigorous space-system demands.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or similar field.
• 10+ years professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience maturing designs from concepts to drawings for satellite/space systems.
• Experience in optical systems mechanical design.
• Working knowledge of ANSI Y14.5 dimensions and tolerances.
• U.S. Person required.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and integration of payloads into satellite structures.
• Develop plans addressing requirements, risks, and schedule.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams across programs.
• Create part/assembly drawings and BOMs in CAD tooling.
• Document design/analysis data in reports and manufacturing systems.
• Support manufacturing with design intent and corrective actions.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment as needed.

Skills

Mechanical design leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

CAD modeling (Creo)

Drafting & drawings

Engineering judgment

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical/Aerospace Eng

10+ years mechanical engineering

Tools

Creo

Windchill

Job description

Staff Mechanical Engineer - Payloads

About Us

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Position Overview

As a Staff Mechanical Engineer on our Optical Payload team at BlackSky you will support the development and integration of our satellite optical payloads, from concept to production, as both a technical leader and individual contributor. You will ensure the payloads developed by our partners meet the demands of our space systems by establishing requirements; collaborating and co-engineering with internal and external parties; evaluating payload design artifacts and test results; and addressing production issues. You will ensure our spacecraft bus structures and systems integrate harmoniously with the payload to meet exacting structural and thermal requirements of our mission. You will develop initial concepts of satellite structures, system layouts, and support equipment based on requirements and objectives, then apply BlackSky best practices, mentorship from senior engineers, and your own skills and intuition to fully mature those concepts. You will interact with flight, prototype, and ground support hardware. You will do all this as part of a highly skilled multi-functional technical team focused on producing state-of-the-art satellites.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that payloads developed by our partners meet the stringent mechanical requirements of our missions through active engagement and collaboration with internal and external parties throughout the program lifecycle.
• Lead the mechanical design and integration of payloads into our satellite structures, applying experience and engineering judgment to develop technical plans for your work and others that considers the full program scope and addresses requirements, risks, and schedule.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver space vehicle designs, production plans, and test strategies that support program cost, schedule, and quality goals.
• Design spacecraft mechanical structures, assemblies, and components with CAD software (Creo).
• Generate and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation such as part drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
• Document design and analysis data in technical reports, presentations, and manufacturing systems.
• Apply engineering judgment to make informed decisions when data is incomplete, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule.
• Support manufacturing and production teams by providing design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing nonconformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment as needed to support integration and test activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role.
• Demonstrable experience working in the satellite or launch industry maturing designs from initial concepts to detailed manufacturing drawings.
• Experience working on the mechanical design of optical systems.
• Familiarity with typical design requirements for space systems.
• Experience leading small to moderate scale efforts with cross-functional teams.
• Experience using CAD software to develop part and assembly models, and manufacturing drawings.
• Working knowledge of the ANSI Y14.5 dimensioning and tolerance specification.
• Must be a U.S. Person.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PTC Creo and Windchill software.
• Experience with structural analysis and test.
• Experience with thermal analysis and test.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more.
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program.
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs.
• Employer matching donations.
• Professional development.
• Awesome swag.

The anticipated salary range for candidates in the Great Seattle Area, WA is 160,000 - 180,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of the Great Seattle Area.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf