Mechanical Engineer, Space Special Programs

ABOUT THE TEAM

In the Space Special Programs team, we build spacecraft and space systems which serve a wide variety of functions in the space architecture. At a time when space superiority can no longer be taken for granted and with space systems proliferating at an incredible rate, the Space Special Programs team provides advanced, mission critical capabilities to our customer base to be able to more effectively operate and survive within this expanding environment with limited personnel. Working across product, engineering, sales, logistics, operations, and mission success, the Space Special Programs team develops, tests, deploys, and operates new, unique, space capabilities to drive mission success in challenging operational environments.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for Mechanical Engineers to join our rapidly growing team in Chantilly, VA. In this role, you will be responsible for portions of the full cycle design for spacecraft and associated systems including deriving requirements, 3D CAD, modelling (structural, thermal, dynamic, etc), materials selection, supervision of fabrication, initial assembly, test, debug and integration with the system. The designs include deployment mechanisms for spacecraft and subsystems (such as antennas, solar panels, etc), as well as boxes, structures, pressure vessels, and the like. All of these components require rigorous testing including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, thermal, etc and must be developed to work with very tight tolerances, since the space vehicles themselves are fairly small. The design work also includes designing, building, and testing the MGSE required to integrate, assemble, and test the spacecraft, ultimately in a high-rate manufacturing environment. The engineering team as a whole must span the capabilities of structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis, structure design for spacecraft, spacecraft dispensers, and other components, 3D CAD for all of these designs, design for fabrication and manufacture, as well as building prototypes, flight articles, and taking them through full qualification or acceptance test campaigns. The complement of individuals on the team will be adjusted so that the entire team functions well across all of these areas, with roles that are more analysis-focused, and roles that are more hands-on focused.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Work with a cross-functional team to design market leading space flight hardware and associated ground equipment products
• Implement product components through rapid prototyping, design verification, and space qualification activities
• Learn and apply modern space-flight hardware design standards and guidelines to create high-reliability, highly manufacturable assemblies
• Implement a variety of structural components and mechatronics, with associated environmental testing to assure robustness in the context of the various missions as well as to characterize performance envelopes of the hardware
• Use rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and hands-on machining as appropriate to iterate quickly and allow for creative “outside-the-box" thinking
• Participate in peer-level and cross-discipline design reviews and collaborate with other MEs on your team to improve everyone’s capabilities
• Root cause investigation data collection and analysis in support of production operations
• Work in a fast-paced environment, having to juggle multiple concurrent projects and changing delivery timelines

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• B.S. in mechanical or aerospace engineering or similar engineering or technical field
• 3-8 years of professional experience, in hardware product development
• Basic understanding of PCB Layout requirements to meet space flight mechanical, and manufacturing requirements
• Experience in ground-up system design and any 3-D CAD
• Hands-on assembly, prototyping, testing, and performance characterization of mechanisms designed for 0g but in a 1g environment.
• Experience designing and building very small mechanisms, components, and systems.
• Familiarity with launch environments, testing for launch environments, range safety, and system integration efforts
• Demonstrated creativity and “out of the box thinking” for spacecraft mechanisms with an eye toward simplicity and reliability
• Ability to determine manage work assignments based on prioritized direction from management, near-term goals, and day-to-day levels of progress
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to work within our company and team culture and take ownership of the tasks assigned to you
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience designing, integrating, and flying Cubesat spacecraft meant to operate in LEO through GEO environments is a significant plus
• 1+ years of experience working in a classified environment is a plus