Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer - Structures & Packaging

Job Description

Job Description

Spacecraft Structures Engineer - Design and Build Next-Generation Spacecraft

Golden, Colorado | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a well-funded, seed-stage space technology startup developing a new approach to spacecraft architecture and assembly. The team is building modular spacecraft systems designed to overcome traditional launch constraints, enabling larger, more capable spacecraft to be assembled and operated in orbit. We are seeking a Spacecraft Structures Engineer to lead the mechanical design, structural analysis, and packaging of spacecraft bus structures and integrated flight hardware. You will own the development of primary and secondary structures, component mounting, electronics accommodation, and thermal-mechanical interfaces from initial design through qualification and flight. This is a hands-on engineering opportunity for someone who enjoys building flight hardware, solving complex mechanical problems, and taking ownership of critical spacecraft systems. You will work closely with a small, multidisciplinary engineering team to translate early designs into fully integrated, flight-ready hardware.

About Us

We are a venture-backed space technology startup based in the Denver metro area, developing advanced spacecraft systems that enable more flexible and scalable architectures in orbit. Our team brings together expertise in spacecraft engineering, robotics, autonomy, and advanced hardware development. With flight demonstrations and operational milestones ahead, we are expanding our engineering team to accelerate hardware development, qualification, and production.

Job Duties

• Lead the mechanical and structural design of spacecraft bus assemblies, primary and secondary structures, and supporting flight hardware.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, interface definitions, and tolerance analyses for spacecraft structures and assemblies.
• Design mechanical interfaces for avionics, electronics, payloads, and other spacecraft components, including mounting hardware, fasteners, inserts, and structural reinforcements.
• Own spacecraft packaging and component layout, balancing structural integrity, thermal performance, electrical integration, and assembly requirements.
• Develop thermal-mechanical interfaces and conductive heat transfer paths through structural design, material selection, component placement, and thermal management hardware.
• Perform structural FEA, including modal, quasi-static, and random vibration analysis, to evaluate spacecraft hardware against launch and operational environments.
• Design mechanical interfaces for solar arrays and associated hardware, accounting for material compatibility, thermal expansion, bonding, and structural loads.
• Support electrical and avionics integration by incorporating harness routing, connector access, grounding interfaces, and electronics mounting into mechanical designs.
• Work directly with suppliers and manufacturing partners to develop fabrication processes, review technical drawings, and resolve production challenges.
• Support prototype fabrication, hardware integration, environmental testing, and structural qualification.
• Evaluate vibration, thermal, and other environmental test results to identify design improvements and validate structural performance.
• Collaborate with electrical, thermal, systems, manufacturing, and test engineers to resolve integration challenges and deliver flight-ready spacecraft hardware.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 4+ years of mechanical or structural engineering experience developing spacecraft, satellites, or spaceflight hardware.
• Demonstrated experience designing hardware that has successfully flown in space.
• Experience owning the mechanical design of a spacecraft structure, assembly, or subsystem from initial development through qualification testing.
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD, mechanical design, detailed engineering drawings, tolerance analysis, and GD&T.
• Hands-on experience designing structural interfaces and mounting solutions for spacecraft components, including consideration of launch loads and dynamic response.
• Proficiency in structural FEA, including modal, quasi-static, and random vibration analysis.
• Strong understanding of structural mechanics, load paths, material behavior, and first-principles engineering calculations.
• Experience designing thermal-mechanical interfaces, including conductive heat transfer paths, thermal interface materials, and differential thermal expansion considerations.
• Working knowledge of aerospace materials, mechanical fabrication methods, fasteners, inserts, and design for manufacturability.
• Experience supporting structural verification, environmental testing, and qualification of flight hardware.
• Ability to work across engineering disciplines and independently drive mechanical design decisions from concept through hardware delivery.

Preferred Experience

• Mechanical packaging of spaceflight electronics, including avionics enclosures, PCB mounting, chassis design, connector accommodation, and grounding and bonding interfaces.
• Design of spacecraft structural panels, including aluminum honeycomb sandwich structures, composite facesheets, bonded inserts, edge closures, and structural reinforcement.
• Experience with bonded joint qualification, insert pull-out testing, core crush analysis, or structural coupon testing.
• Mechanical integration of solar arrays, including substrate selection, solar cell mounting, bonding, and thermal expansion considerations.
• Experience designing thermal conduction paths using structural interfaces, heat pipes, thermal doublers, and thermal interface materials.
• Familiarity with spacecraft thermal analysis software, such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, or comparable tools.
• Experience applying spacecraft structural and environmental verification standards, including NASA-STD-5020, GEVS, or SMC-S-016.
• Understanding of launch vehicle environments, spacecraft vibration and acoustic loads, thermal cycling, and structural margins of safety.
• Proficiency with Onshape, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, or Creo.
• Experience using Nastran, Femap, ANSYS, Abaqus, or comparable structural analysis software.
• Proficiency with Python or MATLAB for engineering analysis, automation, or test data processing.
• Experience managing engineering configurations, design revisions, and hardware development documentation.
• Hands-on experience working with precision machine shops, aerospace suppliers, and hardware fabrication teams.
• Experience developing and testing early-stage spacecraft hardware in a startup or rapid prototyping environment.

Why Join Us

• Join a well-funded, seed-stage space technology company developing a new generation of spacecraft systems.
• Take significant ownership of spacecraft structures and mechanical integration, from early design decisions through flight hardware delivery.
• Work directly with a small, multidisciplinary team where engineering decisions translate quickly into physical hardware.
• Contribute to upcoming flight demonstrations and help establish the mechanical architecture for future spacecraft platforms.
• Opportunity for long-term equity incentives through stock options.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Paid parental leave, three weeks of paid vacation, and 10 or more paid holidays annually.

Compensation Details

$120,000 - $170,000