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Apex manufactures satellite buses (commercial spacecraft platforms) at scale, combining software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. The company enables earth observation, communications, and other critical space applications.
As a Mechanical Engineer, Payloads, you will own the mechanical design, integration, and testing of payload hardware and supporting structures across Apex spacecraft programs. You will work closely with payload, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and integration teams to develop flight-ready hardware from early design through launch.
Key responsibilities include:
- Develop mechanical designs and 3D models for payload hardware, mounting structures, brackets, enclosures, and supporting components
- Own mechanical payload integration from concept and interface definition through design, manufacturing, assembly, and test
- Define and manage mechanical interfaces between payloads, spacecraft structures, and other vehicle subsystems
- Perform structural analysis and hand calculations to ensure payload hardware meets strength, stiffness, mass, and environmental requirements
- Optimize designs for mass, manufacturability, assembly, reliability, and spacecraft-level performance
- Develop detailed engineering drawings, GD&T, interface control documentation, and hardware specifications
- Evaluate and select appropriate materials, fasteners, coatings, and manufacturing processes for flight hardware
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve integration challenges
- Support hands-on assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) of payload and spacecraft hardware
- Develop and execute environmental testing, including vibration, shock, static, and thermal vacuum testing
- Troubleshoot mechanical issues during manufacturing, integration, and test
- Prepare and participate in design reviews, test readiness reviews, and other technical reviews
- Maintain engineering documentation, including design changes, analysis results, test reports, and as-built configurations
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; 2+ years of experience designing and developing mechanical hardware; proficiency in CAD software (NX, SolidWorks); strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals, structural design, material selection, fasteners, and tolerance analysis; experience developing engineering drawings and applying GD&T; strong hands-on problem-solving skills; effective communication.
Preferred qualifications include spacecraft/satellite/aerospace design experience, payload mechanical design and spacecraft-level payload integration, full development lifecycle experience, structural analysis and FEA, aerospace manufacturing processes (CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing), environmental testing experience, hands-on assembly and integration of flight hardware, NX and Teamcenter experience, and familiarity with ASME, NASA, or aerospace design standards.
Apex is a fast-growing startup that has raised over $500M in funding. The company offers equity, 100% company-paid healthcare, comprehensive PTO (15-20+ days vacation plus 10 paid holidays), 401(k) matching, 8 weeks paid parental leave, daily catered lunch, and a vibrant office community in Playa Vista.
