Space Kinetic
Space Technology
SeniorMechanicalDesignEngineer
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.
“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.
Problem-solving; Root-cause investigation
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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