Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Sidus Space•Cape Canaveral, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Mechanical Design Engineer will drive the mechanical architecture, design, and verification of spacecraft and electronic systems. This role leads the development of satellite structures, electronic packaging, and mission‑critical hardware engineered for reliable performance in demanding space environments. The ideal candidate combines deep mechanical design expertise with hands‑on leadership, guiding teams through concept development, detailed modeling, analysis, and qualification. This position is expected to be 100% onsite in Cape Canaveral

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of relevant experience.
3+ years of experience in mechanical design, structural analysis or hardware development.
Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks (or equivalent).

Nice To Haves

Experience designing spacecraft or satellite hardware, including electronics packaging.
Experience leading teams in the development, execution, and review of structural and thermal FEA using industry tools such as NASTRAN, ANSYS, Abaqus, and related analysis environments.
Experience with configuration management practices, including version control, change tracking, and documentation integrity.
Experience driving mechanical design process improvements and contribute to system-level workflow enhancements.
Experience with satellite integration, assembly, and test operations.
Experience supporting environmental testing campaigns (TVAC, thermal cycling).

Responsibilities

Lead the mechanical design, development, and integration of spacecraft hardware, electronic enclosures, and circuit‑card assemblies, ensuring robust structural, thermal, and environmental performance.
Develop mechanical architectures, 3D CAD models, and detailed design layouts that meet subsystem and system‑level requirements for satellites and other systems.
Evaluate mechanical and thermal performance, identify risk areas, and drive design improvements throughout the hardware lifecycle.
Oversee mechanical aspects of environmental qualification, including thermal vacuum testing, thermal cycling, vibration, and shock.
Collaborate closely with electrical, thermal, and systems engineering teams to ensure mechanical considerations are fully integrated into multi‑disciplinary designs.
Produce clear technical documentation, detailed design reports, and presentation materials for internal and external design reviews.
Collaborate with manufacturing, integration, and test teams to maintain design intent through fabrication, assembly, and verification.
Represent the mechanical engineering discipline in customer-facing discussions and communicate design status and decisions effectively.
Treat all coworkers with respect and dignity ensuring a collaborative culture is continually developed and maintained.
Other technical or leadership duties as assigned