Senior Mechanical Engineer III- Spacecraft Mechanisms

Job Title:  Senior Mechanical Engineer III- Spacecraft Mechanisms

Location: Leander, TX

Employment Type: Direct Hire 

Industry:  Aerospace & Defense

Compensation: $130k- $165k/Year

Schedule: 40 Hours/Week 

About the Opportunity:

• We're seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to take full ownership of spacecraft mechanisms across the product life cycle-from clean-sheet concepts and requirements through design, analysis, testing, qualification, and flight integration. You'll work on critical moving assemblies such as deployables, actuators, landing legs, latches, hinges, and separation systems in a fast-paced environment where engineering decisions directly impact flight hardware.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritises both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.

About Acara Solutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

Sound like a good fit?

TODAY

What You'll Do:

• Own the development of moving mechanical assemblies from initial requirements and concept development through qualification and flight.
• Lead configuration development, trade studies, conceptual design, mechanism sizing, kinematics, strength analysis, and FEA.
• Create CAD models, manufacturing drawings, specifications, and supporting engineering documentation while rapidly iterating designs based on test and manufacturing data.
• Define and execute development, qualification, and acceptance test campaigns, including interpretation of thermal and vibration test results.
• Lead design reviews, coordinate with suppliers and customers, manage schedules and budgets, and provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
• 5+ years of experience in aerospace or a related mechanical engineering field.
• 5+ years of experience in sizing and designing motors for spacecraft applications
• 5+ years of experience with industry FEA/FEM tools such as Nastran, ANSYS, or FEMAP.
• 5+ years of experience in designing and analyzing composite and metallic structures.

What Sets You Apart:

• Master's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
• Solid understanding and application of GD&T (ASME Y14.5).
• Strong grasp of first principles across multiple disciplines (mechanical, structural dynamics, materials, fluids/thermodynamics, electrical) and structural failure modes of complex mechanical systems.
• Familiar with instrumentation and functional test setups for mechanisms
• Hobby-level understanding or better of basic machine shop setups for prototyping (mill/ lathe operation, etc)
• Strong design and integration skills using 3-D CAD software (Siemens NX).
• Previous experience with launch vehicle or spacecraft mechanisms (deployables, landing legs, separation systems, latches, hinges, actuators).
• Working knowledge of tribology, bearing selection, lubrication, and mechanism life/margin analysis.
• Working knowledge of composite manufacturing methods, material selection, and testing.
• Experience developing physical tests to validate analysis and evaluate assumptions, and interpreting thermal/vibration test data.
• Familiarity with aerospace-standard analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, Shigley's, etc.).
• Working knowledge of at least one computer/scripting language (Python, MATLAB) at the professional or hobbyist level.
• Leadership experience on an engineering or project team.

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and drug screen.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
• Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), all employees assigned to this client must provide documentation verifying their status as a 'U.S. Person,' as defined in ITAR clause 120.15.  A U.S. Person is a protected individual under the anti-discrimination provisions of U.S. immigration laws.

After you , you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there's a mutual fit.

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Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.