Engineering Manager, Mechanisms

True Anomaly•Long Beach, CA

5h•$160,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability. OUR MISSION The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all. OUR VALUES Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together YOUR MISSION True Anomaly is seeking an innovative Mechanisms Engineering Manager to lead a small, agile team responsible for the design, development, integration, and testing of precision, affordable, motor-driven actuation systems for orbital platforms. Reporting to the VP of New Product Engineering, this role encompasses hands-on technical leadership alongside people management, program planning, and product delivery. The team's portfolio spans precision pointing and tracking systems, solar array drive assemblies, reaction wheels, solar array release mechanisms, optical focusing systems, CubeSat dispensers, and 1G test stands. The successful candidate will have deep expertise in spacecraft mechanisms and motor-driven systems, and the drive to vertically integrate in-house solutions that deliver real mission advantage.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)
10+ years of professional experience in spacecraft mechanisms design, development, and test
Demonstrated experience with motor-driven actuation systems, including brushless DC motors, stepper motors, and associated drive electronics
Experience with precision pointing or tracking mechanisms such as gimbals, beam steering systems, or antenna pointing systems
Strong understanding of mechanism performance analysis including kinematics, structural dynamics, bearing life, and disturbance modeling
Familiarity with GNC interface requirements for stabilized pointing and tracking applications
Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams and deliver complex hardware on schedule

Nice To Haves

Experience with space-qualified mechanisms, including lubrication, materials selection, and life testing for vacuum and thermal environments
Familiarity with solar array drive assemblies, reaction wheels, or other spacecraft momentum and articulation systems
Experience with motor control firmware development and closed-loop servo system design
Knowledge of spacecraft structural analysis tools (NASTRAN, ANSYS, or similar) and mechanism simulation environments
Experience with 1G test stand design or other gravity off-load test approaches for validating on-orbit mechanism behavior
Familiarity with MIL-SPEC and NASA standards applicable to spacecraft mechanisms (e.g., GSFC-STD-7000, MIL-STD-810)
Experience working in a fast-paced, startup environment or a similarly dynamic setting

Responsibilities

Own the technical direction for spacecraft mechanism systems, including precision gimbals, motor-driven actuators, and associated control electronics
Lead, mentor, and grow a team of mechanisms engineers, including a dedicated motor control engineer, to develop fully vertically integrated actuation solutions
Oversee end-to-end mechanisms development lifecycle: requirements definition, mechanical and motor control design, analysis, procurement, integration, and test
Lead the design and development of precision pointing, tracking, and articulation systems for on-orbit payload and antenna applications
Partner closely with the GNC team to develop and validate bearing determination, stabilization, and closed-loop pointing control
Develop and maintain mechanism performance budgets, including pointing accuracy, torque margin, lifetime, and disturbance analyses
Ensure mechanism designs meet mission requirements for reliability, thermal performance, radiation tolerance, and SWaP constraints
Manage schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical risk across multiple mechanism development programs
Collaborate with avionics, systems engineering, software, and test teams to ensure seamless spacecraft integration
Drive compliance with applicable aerospace standards and lead design reviews with internal stakeholders and customers
Communicate product development status and issues with leadership and stakeholders