Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer
The Role
You will own the success of the mechanical structures and mechanisms that will be key to our satellite operation. In your first 6 months, you will define mechanical requirements, create initial concepts and trades, perform preliminary and detailed analysis, define development test campaigns, trade and select any purchased electromechanical subsystems, and produce development hardware. In your first year, you will validate your designs through prototype iterations and build and qualify flight hardware. In your first two years you will fly your hardware in space while directly supporting production and integration.
Responsibilities
Take hardware and mechanisms from conceptual design through qualification to on-orbit operations in order to support internal and external customer needs
Lead design reviews from kickoff through qualification and beyond
Drive hardware development, including hands-on development testing, analysis correlation, and follow-on hardware iterations
Perform hardware trades that steer both sub-system and top-level product direction
Collaborate with a cross-functional team to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for hardware design and manufacturing
Continually own and refine system deliverables and associated schedules throughout development and production
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
5+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis
Experience with CAD or FEA software packages
Experience with the practical application of GD&T
Demonstrated proficiency in the principles of mechanical design, materials, thermodynamics, and fluids
Demonstrated ability to personally design, build, and test hardware from a blank canvas, including troubleshooting and iterating designs based on downstream feedback
Nice to Have
Experience designing, building, and testing moving mechanical assemblies for aerospace applications (satellite mechanical systems, payloads, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and/or aircraft structures and mechanisms)
Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for the design and qualification of in-space Moving Mechanism Assemblies
Demonstrated ability to own mechanical hardware or systems within an integrated engineering team outside a classroom setting
Demonstrated understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems in space environments and operations
Independent and self-motivated mindset, with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Compensation and Benefits:
Base salary range for this role is $100,000 – $175,000 + equity in the company
Salary and level will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks
If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged! If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.
Export Compliance
As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”
The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
Equal Opportunity
K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Average salary estimate
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As a Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer at K2 Space in Los Angeles, you'll play a crucial role in the dynamic world of aerospace engineering. Your journey will begin by taking ownership of mechanical structures and mechanisms vital for our satellite operations. Within your first six months, you'll get your creative juices flowing by defining mechanical requirements and creating initial concepts and trades, while diving into both preliminary and detailed analysis. The excitement ramps up as you define development test campaigns and select the best electromechanical subsystems, leading to the exciting phase of hardware development. As the year unfolds, you’ll transform innovative ideas into reality by validating your designs through prototype iterations, ultimately building, qualifying, and preparing flight hardware for off-planet adventures. Over your first two years, your groundbreaking work will culminate as your designs soar into space, while you actively support production and integration efforts. In this role, collaboration is key—working hand in hand with a cross-functional team to set product requirements and refining system deliverables throughout the development process. To join us, you'll need a Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering along with 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical and electromechanical design. If you're ready to blaze new trails in aerospace engineering and make a real impact, we would love to hear from you!
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