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CesiumAstro is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical engineering team responsible for spacecraft, subsystems, and interfaces across all development phases. This is a hands-on leadership role in a dynamic startup environment focused on developing cutting-edge communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms.
In this position, you will serve as the responsible mechanical authority and team lead, managing a small team of engineers through the complete satellite development lifecycle—from requirements definition and architecture trades through concept design, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, and in-orbit support. You will direct, mentor, and grow your team while developing novel satellite designs with a focus on mechanical design, electronics packaging, thermal architecture, deployable and actuated structures, and environmental qualification.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading mechanical design and development across all phases of spacecraft and subsystem development
- Managing a technical team and providing mentorship to junior engineers
- Delivering robust mechanical designs from concept through spaceflight
- Collaborating closely with GNC, EPS, CDH, Payload, RF, Systems, and AI&T teams to ensure clear mechanical interfaces and cross-functional alignment
- Presenting engineering design review materials to customers and executive leadership
- Participating in proposal-writing efforts
- Supporting subsystem leads with mechanical expertise and interface definition
- Conducting architectural trade studies and parametric analysis
- Reviewing structural and thermal analysis to ensure designs meet requirements and manufacturability
You will work in a collaborative, cross-functional environment where hands-on technical contribution is valued alongside leadership responsibilities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as you will interact regularly with customers, leadership, and cross-functional teams.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited university
- 9 years of experience in communications satellite structures and mechanisms design from concept through decommissioning across multiple programs
- At least 5 years of experience leading technical teams
- Significant contributions to multiple flight missions, plus lead ownership of one or more full mechanical development cycles at the space vehicle level
- Hands-on experience in satellite and large instrument assembly, integration, and testing (AI&T) that directly informs design implementation
- Strong fundamentals in mechanics of materials, hand calculations, and engineering rules of thumb
- Experience conducting architectural trade studies including parametric and first-order cost and physical analysis
- Experience as a reviewer for structural and thermal analysis
- Proficiency with professional mechanical and FEA CAD tools (SolidWorks Simulation, Ansys, Nastran)
- Design and build for manufacturing and cost mindset
- Expertise in CNC manufacturing and GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing)
- Experience designing and manufacturing composite sandwich panels for satellite structures
- Experience designing spacecraft primary and secondary structures in various materials
- Familiarity with design for test, manufacturability, assembly, and reliability
- Hands-on experience supporting environmental test campaigns (vibration, shock, thermal vacuum)
- Experience with failure and recovery of mechanism operations in test and in-orbit, including learning from mission-critical failures
- At least one experience with structural failure in environmental test and successful recovery
- Strong opinions on engineering rigor and lean processes
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with LEO, GEO, and beyond-GEO orbits
- Experience ranging from CubeSats and SmallSats to large GEO satellites
- Python or other scripting capability
- Experience with two or more distinct spacecraft structural and mechanical architectures
NOTE: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, or refugee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to comply with U.S. Government Space Technology Export Regulations.
