Build Engineer

Beyond Reach Labs•Brooklyn, NY

About The Position

Beyond Reach Labs is designing and building large deployable structures for space. The Build Engineer turns designs into hardware, from early R&D test articles through full-scale prototypes, qualification units, and first flight deployables. The role is hands-on in the lab and works alongside design, analysis, and test engineers, with ownership of how hardware is built, integrated, and verified. The Build Engineer leads prototype builds and integration, develops tooling and ground support equipment, and plans builds and manages parts and materials. The role also supports early research and development by building and modifying test articles, collaborating with design engineers on design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly feedback, and developing fabrication and joining techniques. For qualification, the engineer plans and runs build and acceptance testing, produces controlled and traceable hardware, supports environmental test campaigns, documents as-built configurations and nonconformances, and contributes to root-cause investigations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
At least 1 year of experience building, integrating, or testing mechanical or electromechanical hardware.
Hands-on skill with hand and power tools, precision measurement, and mechanical assembly.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T.
Working knowledge of CAD, such as SolidWorks, NX, or Onshape.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to support critical project milestones.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for authorization under U.S. export regulations.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years of experience building, integrating, or testing mechanical or electromechanical hardware.
Experience building spacecraft or launch vehicle hardware, ideally deployable mechanisms such as booms, antennas, solar arrays, or hinges.
Experience taking hardware through qualification or acceptance testing, including vibration, thermal vacuum, or shock.
Experience with composites layup, adhesive bonding, or other lightweight-structure fabrication.
Machining, 3D printing, or other rapid-prototyping skills.
Experience designing tooling and ground support equipment for large assemblies.

Responsibilities

Lead the build and integration of full-scale and subscale deployable prototypes, from kitting through full assembly and component-level work.
Design and build tooling, fixtures, jigs, and ground support equipment, such as gravity offload systems, for assembling and deploying large structures.
Plan builds, manage parts and materials, and keep schedules moving in a fast-paced lab.
Build and modify early test articles, mechanism breadboards, and material coupons to retire technical risks.
Work with design engineers to iterate on concepts and provide design-for-manufacture and design-for-assembly feedback.
Develop and trial fabrication, bonding, joining, and tensioning techniques for large, lightweight structures.
Source and work with vendors to secure critical materials and piece parts.
Plan and run build, qualification, and acceptance testing for hardware and tooling to meet delivery deadlines.
Build qualification and flight-like units to controlled, documented processes with full traceability.
Support environmental test campaigns, including vibration, thermal vacuum, and deployment testing, through pre-test build, integration, and post-test inspection.
Capture as-built configurations, nonconformances, and corrective actions, and drive root-cause investigations when hardware does not behave as expected.