Senior Mechanical Engineer, Electronics Packaging

Planet • San Francisco, CA

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineering team at Planet is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to help drive the design of key spacecraft subsystems across Planet’s fleet of Earth-imaging satellites! Your mission will be to champion our spacecraft design efforts, from the subsystem level, all the way up to the top-level spacecraft. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned mechanical designer who has led mechanical subsystem development across multiple programs from conceptual design through manufacturing and testing and into flight. As a member of the Mechanical Engineering team within Planet’s Space Systems division, you will be a key contributor and stakeholder in Planet’s agile aerospace approach to spacecraft design, and will work closely with Planet Mechanical Engineering Team, Qualification Team, and Manufacturing team as well as the rest of Planet’s leading-edge spacecraft design teams.
This is a full-time, in-office role which will require you to work in our San Francisco HQ 5 days a week.

Requirements

• 6+ years experience owning products from requirements, through conceptual design, and into test and manufacturing
• 4+ years of experience specifically in electronics packaging at the PCB/A and chassis level design for high density digital, analog, RF, optical, and/or power electronics
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering or science degree
• Advanced in computer-aided design (CAD) software and Product Lifecycle Management software.
• Solid experience using GD&T and ANSI Y14.5 to generate good quality, low cost parts
• Experience with design and fabrication of composites and metal components
• Hands-on experience with dynamic hardware builds, test plan creation, and hardware validation
• Ability to be self-motivated and responsible while working in a dynamic environment
• Excellent verbal and visual communication skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience in thermal hardware design, mechanisms, and/or structures
• Experience designing products for low or mid volume serial production and have a good understanding of the tradeoffs between manufacturing methods for these volumes
• Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM/DFA
• Machine shop experience fabricating or modifying parts (CNC Mill/Router, Mill, Lathe, Laser Cutter, 3D printer)
• Proficiency in Python, Matlab, and/or Visual Basic (VBA)

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical design on key spacecraft subsystems across Planet’s satellite fleet
• Drive documentation and presentation of new designs throughout design phases and reviews
• Collaborate with structural analysis team to drive/perform analyses on key spacecraft subsystems to meet stiffness and strength requirements
• Drive part/assembly tolerancing using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and own release of drawing packages for part fabrication
• Perform design and analysis responsibilities
• Drive part/assembly design and fabrication at key subsystem vendors
• Collaborate with manufacturing team to implement key spacecraft design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) features
• Support interface control document (ICD) development and size and develop interfaces for your subsystems
• Support test planning and qualification campaigns
• Support debugging and root-causing on-orbit anomalies and production
• Be hands on with flight and test hardware

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
• Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
• 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Home Office Reimbursement
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
• Equity
• Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
• Volunteering Paid Time Off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level