Mechanism Engineer

Portal Space Systems•Bothell, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Portal Space Systems is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer to own a critical vehicle mechanism subsystem from concept through flight. This role involves designing, building, and validating integrated systems, working closely with various engineering teams. The ideal candidate will be hands-on, capable of moving quickly, iterating often, and taking full ownership of mechanisms that directly impact mission success. Assignments may include separation systems, landing gear, aero control surfaces, or electromechanical actuation.

Requirements

3+ years of professional experience designing mechanisms or complex mechanical systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, missile systems, or other high-reliability aerospace hardware.
Demonstrated ownership of complex hardware projects from concept through design, manufacturing, integration, and test.
Working knowledge of launch and space environments, including vibration, shock, vacuum, thermal cycling, and temperature extremes.
Experience applying engineering analysis to mechanism performance, structural integrity, functional margins, and tolerance management.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
Experience with motion/kinematic simulations
Strong fundamentals in structural mechanics, kinematics, materials, and manufacturing processes
Experience writing and executing structural test plans
Experience with aerospace standard structural analysis methods (Bruhn, Niu, Roark, Shigley's, etc.)
Proficiency with CAD packages (Siemens NX preferred; SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo also acceptable)
Proficiency with industry FEA/FEM tools (Nastran, ANSYS, FEMAP, Abaqus, etc.)
Strong understanding and application of drafting standards and GD&T (ASME Y14.5)
Direct experience with separation systems, landing gear, aero control surfaces, or flight electromechanical actuators
Experience with docking/berthing systems
Experience with pyrotechnic or low-shock separation devices
Hands-on prototyping and machining experience
Familiarity with reusable vehicle design
A proven history of mentoring junior engineers
Experience at a fast-moving, hardware-focused startup or early-stage program

Responsibilities

Own the complete lifecycle of moving mechanical assemblies — from requirements and interface definition through conceptual/detailed design, development, assembly, verification, qualification testing, operation, manufacturing support, and post-flight analysis
Drive structural and kinematic design for minimum mass while meeting strength, stiffness, fatigue, and operational-life requirements across ascent, entry, landing, and reuse environments
Apply first-order hand calculations and empirical formulas to assess and iterate on designs rapidly
Build finite element models and perform detailed analysis — including tolerance stack-ups — to prove designs meet vehicle requirements
Create detailed component and assembly drawings incorporating GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance stack-up analysis
Own the design, development, and implementation of custom tooling in support of programs
Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns; author test plans, procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions; validate predictions with test and flight data
Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision
Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time
Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements
Work with suppliers and manufacturing to bring designs to reality, including managing schedule/budget for owned hardware and tracking/dispositioning non-conformances
Support launch operations, post-flight inspection, and refurbishment planning
Be the reliable expert of your system — from concept to mission control console