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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 Mechanisms Engineer and subject matter expert, you will own the complete spacecraft mechanism architecture and lead all phases of mechanism development from concept through flight qualification. Your responsibilities include:
• Own spacecraft mechanism architecture including hinges, booms, dampers, latches, and synchronization hardware
• Define requirements for hold-down and release mechanisms, including release device selection, preload sizing, and separation shock allocation
• Lead the design of pointing gimbals and set their actuation, range, accuracy, and resolution requirements
• Establish torque and force margin practices across worst-case friction, thermal, and end-of-life conditions, and approve margins for flight
• Direct deployment kinematics and multibody dynamics analysis to verify sequencing, rates, latch-up, and induced loads
• Define material, bearing, and lubricant selection for vacuum compatibility, and set handling, cleanliness, and outgassing controls
• Own mechanism development, qualification, and life test campaigns in ambient and thermal vacuum conditions
• Support fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) analysis and implementation
• Support systems engineering team in writing detailed requirements and verification methods
• Serve as technical focal point for mechanisms across mechanical design, structures, opto-mechanical, avionics, and manufacturing
• Create technical documentation for proposals, design reviews, and test reports
• Mentor engineers and technicians, and establish standards for mechanism design, analysis processes, and review practices
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering field
• Minimum 10 years of experience designing and qualifying spacecraft mechanisms
• Demonstrated leadership of space systems development, including ownership of a mechanism from concept through qualification and flight
• Experience sizing and selecting precision actuators and drivetrains (stepper or brushless DC motors, harmonic drives, gearheads, encoders)
• Experience selecting vacuum-compatible bearings and lubricants, and addressing tribology, cold welding, and outgassing in flight mechanism design
• Experience with hold-down and release devices, including non-explosive actuators or pyrotechnic devices, and their qualification and shock environments
• Proficiency producing CAD models and drawings with GD&T in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent
• Experience performing torque and force margin analysis per NASA-STD-5017 or equivalent
• Creative problem-solving skills and capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's or PhD degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or related field
• Experience with deployable structures (booms, reflectors, solar arrays) and gravity offload testing techniques
• Multibody dynamics or kinematic simulation using Adams, Inventor Dynamic Simulation, or equivalent
• Experience with pointing or gimbal mechanisms and their interaction with attitude control and pointing jitter
• Familiarity with space mission regulations and standards
• Strong multidisciplinary team communication and project prioritization skills
• Ability to identify risks and develop mitigation efforts, including requirements changes and waiver documentation
