Sr. Mechanisms Engineer

Cowboy Space Corp.•San Carlos, CA

2d•$152,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Payload Mechanical team is looking for a Senior Mechanisms Engineer to act as the responsible engineer for gimbal mechanism development on our laser communications payloads. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated expert with a versatile skill set and deep hands-on experience with flight mechanisms for high-reliability space systems, comfortable driving everything from conceptual design and performance budgeting to precision component procurement and rigorous hardware execution. This role spans concept development, mechanical design, analysis, procurement, integration, and qualification of precision pointing and tracking mechanisms for flight. You will work closely with optical, laser, controls, and systems engineers to deliver flight-ready gimbals that meet demanding performance and reliability requirements. Previous experience driving end-to-end development of precision flight mechanisms, managing stringent performance budgets, and qualifying hardware for space environments in a fast-paced environment is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
5+ years of experience designing and developing precision mechanisms for flight hardware in aerospace or defense programs
Demonstrated experience as the technical owner of end-to-end mechanism development including design, analysis, procurement, integration, and test
Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Solidworks, or equivalent) and engineering drawing/GD&T
Experience with mechanism analysis including kinematics, stiffness, torque margin, and bearing life calculations
Hands-on experience with flight mechanism integration, alignment, and functional testing in a lab environment
Familiarity with precision components including angular contact bearings, brushless DC motors, and optical encoders
Experience taking flight mechanisms through environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum)

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
8+ years of experience in precision flight mechanism development for space or defense programs
Experience designing gimbal mechanisms for laser communications, optical payloads, or antenna pointing systems
Familiarity with fast steering mirrors or other precision beam-pointing devices
Experience with mechanism lubrication strategies for space environments
Familiarity with closed-loop control of gimbal mechanisms and interaction with pointing error budgets
Experience with life and wear testing and reliability analysis for space mechanisms
Hands-on experience building and qualifying flight hardware in a cleanroom environment

Responsibilities

Own the full development lifecycle of gimbal mechanisms for laser communications payloads, from concept through flight qualification
Design precision gimbal assemblies, including bearings, flexures, motors, encoders, and structural members
Perform mechanism-level analysis including kinematics, stiffness, backlash, torque margin, thermal expansion, and bearing life modeling
Define mechanism performance requirements and interface specifications in coordination with optical and controls teams
Specify and procure precision components including bearings, motors, encoders, and custom machined parts; own supplier relationships and acceptance testing
Develop and execute integration and verification procedures for flight hardware
Define and execute qualification test plans including functional testing, life testing, vibration, shock, and thermal-vacuum
Develop and maintain mechanism drawings, GD&T specifications, assembly procedures, and test reports
Collaborate with controls engineers to support mechanism characterization and closed-loop performance validation
Participate in design reviews and contribute to system-level pointing and tracking trade studies