Space Kinetic

Space Technology

SeniorMechanicalDesignEngineer

$109–150k El Segundo, California, United States
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.

The Brief

“Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Space Kinetic. Skills: Mechanical design, Mechanism development, Spacecraft mechanisms. Provide guidance for design. Provide guidance for prototype builds”

What You'll Achieve.

Achieve flight demo within 2 years

Industry & Context.

Space Technology
Problems you'll solve

Problem-solving; Root-cause investigation

Eligibility Requirements

Domestic travel up to 20%, Maintain or obtain Government Security Clearance

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

U. S. citizen or national, U. S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U. S. C. § 1157, Asylee under 8 U. S. C. § 1158, Eligible to obtain U.S. Department of State authorizations

Nice to Have

Experience designing deployable space mechanisms, Knowledge of space-rated materials, Knowledge of lubricants, Knowledge of bearings, Experience with spacecraft structures, Experience with payload integration, Familiarity with NASA spacecraft development standards, Familiarity with DoD spacecraft development standards, Hands-on experience in prototype builds, Hands-on experience in mechanism troubleshooting, Understanding of mechanism kinematics, Understanding of mechanism dynamics, Experience designing high-reliability aerospace hardware, Ability to work in cross-disciplinary engineering teams, Problem-solving skills, Root-cause investigation skills, Experience working in fast-paced spaceflight development programs

What You'll Do.

Provide guidance for design

Provide guidance for prototype builds

Design system assemblies

Design subsystem assemblies

Design moving assemblies

Design precision motion systems

Perform mechanism design

Perform tolerance analysis

Perform kinematic studies

Create engineering drawings

Support mechanical simulations

Create simplified reps

Design prototype assemblies

Design test mechanisms

Validate functionality

Validate operational stability

Support design for manufacturing

Support design for assembly

Prepare technical documentation

Support design reviews

Develop space-rated mechanisms

Develop release systems

Develop separation systems

Develop motorized actuators

Develop payload pointing mechanisms

Develop precision robotic mechanisms

Develop precision kinematic mechanisms

Calculate mechanism torque

Calculate mechanism friction

Select space-qualified materials

Select space-qualified lubricants

Select space-qualified bearings

Select space-qualified coatings

Support finite element analysis

Support mechanism performance simulations

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Cross-functional teams; Simulation teams; Electrical teams; Manufacturing teams; Systems engineering teams

Communication Scope

Written communication

Process & Methodology

Organizational skills, Planning skills

Full Job Description

A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. What You’ll Do: The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer will provide guidance for design and prototype builds for the Space Kinetic core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast-paced startup environment. Design and develop system and subsystem assemblies, mechanisms and moving assemblies including linkages, gears, cams, actuators, and precision motion systems. Perform mechanism design, tolerance analysis, and kinematic studies to ensure reliable operation. Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA or NX. Support the mechanical simulations and FEA teams creating step files, simplified reps and volumes to assist with th

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