Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer
About The Position
CesiumAstro is seeking a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer to lead a team responsible for the mechanical aspects of its spacecraft, subsystems, and interfaces throughout the development process. The role involves directing, mentoring, and growing engineers while contributing expertise in mechanical design, electronics packaging, CAD, mechanical interfaces, thermal architecture, deployable and actuated structures, and spacecraft environmental qualification. As spacecraft team lead and responsible mechanical authority, this position manages a small team developing satellites and delivers robust mechanical designs from concept through space flight. Work spans requirements definition, architecture trades and block diagrams, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, and in-orbit support. The engineer collaborates with GNC, EPS, CDH, Payload, RF, Systems, and AI&T teams; presents engineering design review materials to customers and the executive team; and participates in proposal writing. U.S. citizenship or another qualifying status under U.S. Space Technology Export Regulations is required, or the ability to obtain the required authorizations.
Requirements
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
- 12 or more years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated technical leadership of spacecraft mechanical development, including ownership of major design decisions and successful execution through one or more full development cycles.
- Experience leading and mentoring multidisciplinary mechanical teams and coordinating across structures, thermal, mechanisms, electrical, manufacturing, analysis, and AI&T.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft mechanical architecture, structural design, mechanical interfaces, and system-level design trades.
- Hands-on experience supporting spacecraft integration, environmental testing, and resolution of vehicle-level technical challenges.
- Strong knowledge of design for manufacturing, assembly, test, reliability, GD&T, and mechanical drawing practices.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, refugee, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting vibration, shock, and TVAC campaigns.
- Experience with spacecraft primary and secondary structures, including metallic and/or composite designs.
- Familiarity with mechanical CAD and analysis tools such as SolidWorks, Ansys, Nastran, or equivalent.
Responsibilities
- Lead a team responsible for mechanical aspects of spacecraft, subsystems, and interfaces through all phases of development.
- Direct, mentor, and grow engineers in the design of satellites.
- Manage a small team developing satellites and serve as the responsible mechanical authority.
- Deliver mechanical designs from concept through space flight, including requirements definition, architecture trades and block diagrams, analysis, manufacturing, assembly, testing, qualification, and in-orbit support.
- Collaborate with GNC, EPS, CDH, Payload, RF, Systems, and AI&T teams.
- Present engineering design review materials to customers and the executive team.
- Participate in proposal-writing efforts.
Benefits
- Company stock options.
- Health, dental, and vision plans.
- HSA and FSA.
- Life and disability plans.
- Retirement plans.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
