Principal Mechanisms Engineer

1 hour, 37 minutes ago
Full-time
Lead
IoT and Embedded Systems

K2 Space Corporation

K2 Space builds high-powered satellite platforms and satellite buses for missions across LEO, MEO, and GEO, emphasizing higher payload power, large payload mass, vertical integration, and in-house manufacturing.

Defense and Space Manufacturing
51-200
Founded 2022
$180M raised

Description

  • Define how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, integrates, and deploys coarse pointing assemblies for large-aperture optical payloads.
  • Deliver design and tolerancing for coarse pointing assemblies supporting 0.1 m to 1 m diameter optical payloads.
  • Perform line-of-sight error budgeting and stabilization analysis.
  • Develop environmental test and qualification plans, as well as ground and in-flight performance validation plans.
  • Create supply chain and high-volume manufacturing plans for mechanisms and specialty processes.
  • Collaborate with optical and satellite bus teams to define requirements for optical payload coarse pointing assemblies.
  • Own the top-level CAD assembly for optical payloads and coordinate placement on the satellite bus with the structures team.
  • Prepare design reviews and communicate expectations across hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams.
  • Own and refine program deliverables and schedules throughout development and production.
  • Evaluate and select manufacturing equipment for specialty processes.
  • Partner with production to develop work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or another relevant engineering discipline.
  • 8+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optomechanics, electromechanical mechanisms, or electrical/mechanical design and testing.
  • Deep experience with CAD and FEA software packages such as NX, Simcenter, FEMAP, and/or Hypermesh.
  • Minimum 3+ years of experience working with one or more programming languages such as Python, Rust, C++, and/or MATLAB.
  • Experience with precision optical mechanisms, including requirement definition, architecture trades, mechanism error quantification, and system-level pointing validation (preferred).
  • Deep knowledge of 2-axis gimbal design for space applications, including bearing selection and preload, structural design, drive mechanisms, angular runout, and long-life operation in vacuum (preferred).
  • Experience closing line-of-sight performance budgets through analysis, controls integration, and test, including structural dynamics, tolerance stack-up, jitter analysis, pointing calibration, and environmental qualification (preferred).
  • Familiarity with precision actuation, sensing, and control technologies such as encoders, resolvers, gyros/IMUs, and feedforward/closed-loop control approaches (preferred).
  • Experience designing harness routing, cable wraps, slip rings, and other cable-management approaches for rotating mechanisms, including routing optical fibers through moving axes (preferred).
  • Experience leading mechanism hardware through the full product life cycle from requirements generation through flight validation (preferred).
  • Experience contributing to spacecraft-level alignment and calibration planning for optical pointing mechanisms (preferred).
  • Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for design and qualification of in-space Moving Mechanism Assemblies (preferred).
  • Must be a U.S. person or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Benefits

  • Base salary range of $175,000 to $200,000, plus equity in the company.
  • Comprehensive benefits package.
  • Paid time off.
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life insurance.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Additional perks and benefits.

Interested in this position?

Apply directly on the company website

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