Principal Mechanical Engineer - Optical Payloads

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Optical Payloads

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer on our Optical Payload team at BlackSky you will support the development and integration of our satellite optical payloads, from concept to production, as both a technical leader and individual contributor. You will ensure the payloads developed by our partners meet the demands of our space systems by establishing requirements; collaborating and co-engineering with internal and external parties; evaluating payload design artifacts and test results; and addressing production issues. You will ensure our spacecraft bus structures and systems integrate harmoniously with the payload to meet exacting structural and thermal requirements of our mission. You will develop initial concepts of satellite structures, system layouts, and support equipment based on requirements and objectives, then apply BlackSky best practices, mentorship from senior engineers, and your own skills and intuition to fully mature those concepts. You will interact with flight, prototype, and ground support hardware. You will do all this as part of a highly skilled multi-functional technical team focused on producing state-of-the-art satellites.

This position reports to the Director, Mechanical Engineering and is a hybrid role based out of our Tukwila, WA office. 

Responsibilities:

• Ensure that payloads developed by our partners meet the stringent mechanical requirements of our missions through active engagement and collaboration with internal and external parties throughout the program lifecycle.
• Lead the mechanical design and integration of payloads into our satellite structures, applying experience and engineering judgement to develop technical plans for your work and others that considers the full program scope and addresses requirements, risks, and schedule.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver space vehicle designs, production plans, and test strategies that support program cost, schedule, and quality goals.
• Design spacecraft mechanical structures, assemblies, and components with CAD software (Creo)
• Generate and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation such as part drawings, assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
• Document design and analysis data in technical reports, presentations, and manufacturing systems.
• Apply engineering judgment to make informed decisions when data is incomplete, balancing performance, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule.
• Support manufacturing and production teams by providing design intent, resolving build issues, reviewing nonconformance reports, and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, and ground support equipment as needed to support integration and test activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a similar engineering discipline.
• 12+ years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role
• Demonstrable experience working in the satellite or launch industry maturing designs from initial concepts to detailed manufacturing drawings
• Experience working on the mechanical design of optical systems
• Familiarity with typical design requirements for space systems
• Experience leading small to moderate scale efforts with cross-functional teams
• Experience using CAD software to develop part and assembly models, and manufacturing drawings
• Working knowledge of the ANSI Y14.5 dimensioning and tolerance specification
• Must be a US Person

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with PTC Creo and Windchill software.
• Experience with structural analysis and test
• Experience with thermal analysis and test

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes :

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Awesome swag