SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy. The company is developing space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, an orbital power grid that will allow spacecraft to wirelessly receive energy instead of generating all their own power.
As a Senior Spacecraft Mechanical Design Engineer and subject matter expert, you will own the mechanical design and configuration of advanced spacecraft. Your responsibilities include:
• Own the complete mechanical configuration of spacecraft, including internal layout, keep-out zones, access and serviceability, and stowed/deployed envelopes of deployable structures.
• Manage the spacecraft mass properties budget, allocate mass to subsystems, track center of gravity and inertia, and approve growth and margin positions at design reviews.
• Own all interfaces to subcontractors, customers, and launch vehicle hardware; maintain accurate and current Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Establish drafting standards and GD&T practices per ASME Y14.5, including drawing formats, tolerancing conventions, and part numbering schemes.
• Define and run the drawing review and release process, including release states, engineering change management, and router packages for hardware fabrication.
• Lead the design of electronics enclosures that mount circuit cards and electrical components; coordinate with Electrical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, and Structural Analysis teams to ensure designs protect sensitive electronics in launch and space environments.
• Establish and maintain Autodesk Inventor templates, standard parts libraries, and modeling practices for consistent, reusable designs.
• Direct detail design across the mechanical team and approve models and drawings for release.
• Own producibility standards and make-versus-buy logic for mechanical hardware; set supplier drawing and inspection requirements.
• Serve as the technical focal point for mechanical design across structures, mechanisms, thermal, optical, avionics, and manufacturing.
• Support systems engineering in writing detailed requirements for mechanical hardware and verification methods.
• Mentor engineers and establish design review practices and documentation standards.
• Create technical documentation for proposals, design reviews, and test reports.
Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, structural, or aerospace engineering (or related field) with minimum 10 years of spacecraft or flight hardware mechanical design experience.
• Demonstrated leadership of space systems development, including ownership of a major assembly from concept through build and flight.
• Experience establishing or owning a drafting standard and GD&T practice per ASME Y14.5, and a drawing release process in a PDM system.
• Experience owning a vehicle mass properties budget, including subsystem allocation, growth tracking, and design review reporting.
• Experience with mechanical chassis design for electrical components (wedgelocks, connectors, backplanes, flex circuits, thermal interface materials, heatsinks, EMI/EMC shielding, encapsulation, cable management).
• Expert proficiency in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent, including large assembly management.
• Experience driving producibility and make-versus-buy decisions with machine shops, fabricators, and flight hardware suppliers.
• Experience evaluating and selecting space-qualified adhesives, sealants, and threadlockers; ability to write technical work instructions for application and curing.
• Creative problem-solving skills and capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's or PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Experience with deployable structures and configuration control of stowed/deployed states.
• Experience with composite, bonded, or lightweight panel construction and associated fabrication processes.
• Experience administering CAD and PDM environments, including template, library, and automation development with iLogic, Python, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with space mission regulations and standards.
• Strong multidisciplinary team communication and project prioritization skills.
Note: ITAR compliance required; must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
