Design Engineer II

ExoTerra Resource, LLC•Littleton, CO

13d•$105,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Design Engineer II designs, develops, and implements solutions for manufacturing, testing, handling, transportation, and delivery of aerospace hardware. The role focuses on Ground Support Equipment (GSE), manufacturing kitting systems, assembly fixtures, shipping containers, and protective packaging that safeguard sensitive flight and non-flight hardware throughout its lifecycle. The successful candidate has strong mechanical design skills, proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software, and an understanding of protection, handling, transportation, and storage requirements for high-value aerospace components and assemblies. The position works closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Test Engineering, and Program Management to develop solutions that improve efficiency, reduce risk, and protect mission-critical hardware. The work includes creating design models and documentation, supporting production and test operations, resolving handling and packaging problems, and contributing to continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
3–7 years of experience in mechanical design, aerospace tooling, fixtures, packaging design, manufacturing engineering, or related engineering disciplines.
Experience designing fabricated assemblies, support equipment, tooling, fixtures, or transportation systems.
Proficiency with SolidWorks; experience with Creo, NX, CATIA, Inventor, or similar CAD platforms may be considered.
Strong understanding of mechanical design principles and engineering drawing creation.
Experience designing weldments, sheet metal assemblies, machined components, and structural frameworks.
Ability to create detailed drawings with GD&T in accordance with ASME standards.
Understanding of aerospace hardware handling, transportation, and protection requirements.
Knowledge of material selection, fabrication methods, and manufacturing processes.
Ability to perform engineering calculations related to structural integrity, load capacity, vibration, and shock protection.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
Ability to lift materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations to comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting manufacturing or aerospace production environments.
Aerospace, defense, space systems, satellite, launch vehicle, propulsion, or aviation industry experience.
Experience designing support equipment for flight hardware, propulsion systems, or test operations.
Working knowledge of packaging standards for aerospace and high-value hardware.
Familiarity with vibration, shock, and transportation testing methods.
Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) and structural analysis tools.
Knowledge of ESD, contamination control, and clean-room handling requirements.
Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.

Responsibilities

Design and develop aerospace Ground Support Equipment for assembly, integration, testing, transportation, storage, and installation of flight hardware and support systems.
Create detailed 3D models, fabrication and assembly drawings, and bills of materials.
Design equipment to meet safety, ergonomic, structural, and operational requirements.
Support design reviews, prototype evaluations, and implementation of new GSE in production and test operations.
Improve existing support equipment to increase reliability, efficiency, and maintainability.
Design kitting boxes, component storage systems, assembly fixtures, workstations, carts, and material-handling solutions.
Develop solutions that support lean manufacturing and improve production efficiency.
Create protective handling fixtures that reduce damage risks to sensitive aerospace hardware during assembly and movement.
Collaborate with technicians and manufacturing personnel to optimize product flow and assembly operations.
Design packaging systems, reusable shipping containers, transport fixtures, foam inserts, protective cases, and custom crating solutions.
Develop packaging that protects hardware from vibration, shock, electrostatic discharge, contamination, moisture, and environmental exposure, while supporting domestic and international transportation requirements.
Assess structural integrity and protection levels during handling and shipment; support packaging testing, transportation simulations, and failure investigations.
Generate and maintain engineering drawings, specifications, and design documentation.
Create and manage engineering change notices and revision-controlled design packages.
Develop manufacturing instructions and assembly documentation, and maintain compliance with engineering standards and configuration management processes.
Work with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, Integration & Test, and Program teams to define requirements and develop solutions.
Support root-cause investigations involving damaged hardware, handling incidents, packaging failures, and transportation-related issues.
Participate in design reviews and risk assessments for new products and programs.
Provide technical support during fabrication, assembly, integration, and shipment activities.
Support manufacturing, integration, and test operations in production environments; inspect hardware, packaging systems, support equipment, and assembly operations.
Occasionally travel to suppliers, customers, test facilities, or launch sites as required.