Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer - Mechanisms

Umbra • Reston, VA

3d • $180,000 - $220,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Umbra is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior/Staff Mechanical Engineer to join its multidisciplinary Space Systems engineering team. The role contributes to the design and development of next-generation space systems and mechanisms, with an emphasis on designing, prototyping, building, and testing hardware and on rotating machinery. The position is based on-site at an office in Santa Barbara/Goleta, California; Arlington, Virginia; or Reston, Virginia.

The engineer will lead spacecraft mechanisms and pointing systems, drive architecture and technical trade decisions, and own hardware through design, build, qualification, and delivery. The role includes collaborating with engineering, systems, manufacturing, and technician teams; developing design and verification documentation; and supporting other engineering teams as needed. Launch and test campaigns may occasionally require work outside regular hours, including evenings and weekends.

Umbra offers flexible time off and sick, family, and medical leave; employer-funded medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, and short-term disability coverage; employee-funded voluntary life, critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, and pet insurance; a 401(k) with a 3% non-elective company contribution; stock options; free parking; and free daily office lunch. The compensation range is $180,000–$220,000, depending on experience, location, skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

The position may involve access to technology or data subject to U.S. export controls. Hired persons must satisfy applicable export-control eligibility requirements. Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 10–15+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• 5+ years of experience developing motor-driven mechanisms for spacecraft power or payload systems.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ownership of spacecraft hardware through qualification and delivery.
• Strong multidisciplinary understanding of mechanisms and mechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience manufacturing and assembling parts using various methods and standards.
• Proficiency in CAD software and experience with design and drafting to ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Expertise in first-principles analysis, including hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently research, diagnose, and clearly explain technical challenges and solutions.
• Must meet applicable U.S. export-control eligibility requirements for access to controlled technology or data.

Nice To Haves

• 18+ years of professional experience in mechanical or aerospace engineering, with 10+ years developing motor-driven mechanisms for spacecraft power or payload systems.
• Desire to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative team environment.
• Experience serving as technical lead or responsible engineer for complex hardware development programs.
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with thermal analysis.
• Experience interfacing with RF systems and associated EMI/EMC practices.
• Experience with closed-loop motor-encoder automation in a lab or on-orbit.
• Expertise in pointing, acquisition, and tracking.
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
• Familiarity with electronics assemblies and harnessing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for spacecraft mechanisms and pointing systems, driving architecture decisions, technical trades, and risk-reduction activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to derive and refine requirements.
• Create motorization budgets.
• Perform detailed design and component selection for encoders and signal routing and cable management.
• Design for launch loads and stow/release behavior.
• Create pointing budgets that account for on-orbit behaviors.
• Work with the Chief Engineer and Systems Architects to optimize designs for performance and manufacturability.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to mechanical engineers across the organization.
• Create detailed design documentation, including drawings, design guides, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Lead technical reviews, root-cause investigations, and resolution of complex hardware issues.
• Conduct qualification campaigns.
• Develop test plans and select equipment to verify torque and torque margin, and open-loop and closed-loop pointing performance.
• Verify as-built performance over temperature and in the presence of base disturbance.
• Develop and execute work instructions, test plans, and test reports.
• Partner with technicians and manufacturing engineers to troubleshoot and resolve hardware issues.
• Provide mechanical engineering support to other engineering teams as needed.
• Occasionally support launch and test campaigns outside regular hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• Flexible time off.
• Sick, family, and medical leave.
• Employer-funded medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability (LTD), and short-term disability (STD) coverage.
• Employee-funded voluntary life, critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, and pet insurance.
• 401(k) with a 3% non-elective company contribution.
• Stock options.
• Free parking.
• Free lunch in office daily.

What This Job Offers

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