Lead Mechanical Engineer

Role Overview and Responsibilities:

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Mechanisms and R&D Lead Engineer to join our Space Systems Engineering team. In this role, you will lead the design, analysis, and development of advanced mechanical systems and mechanisms for spacecraft and deployers. You will take full ownership of mechanism projects from concept design and prototyping through qualification and flight readiness ensuring technical excellence, reliability, and mission success.

You will also be responsible for guiding a team of engineers, driving design innovation, and ensuring adherence to aerospace standards and best practices across all mechanism development activities.

Key Responsibilities Include, but Are Not Limited To:

• Lead end-to-end development of mechanical systems and space mechanisms, including deployment systems, actuators, hinges, latches, and precision assemblies.
• Oversee ongoing projects to ensure technical rigor, schedule adherence, and successful qualification.
• Supervise and mentor a small team of 4–5 engineers, providing technical direction and ensuring alignment across R&D activities.
• Conduct and chair design and drawing reviews, ensuring compliance with GD&T, DFM/DFA principles, and manufacturability standards.
• Prepare and review Interface Control Documents (ICDs), design reports, test plans, and qualification documentation to maintain traceability and design integrity.
• Plan and lead formal reviews such as Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), and Flight Readiness Review (FRR).
• Perform and validate FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and other reliability assessments to mitigate design risks.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with systems engineering, avionics, structures, and AIT teams to ensure seamless integration of mechanical subsystems.
• Drive prototype development, functional testing, and qualification campaigns, ensuring correlation between design intent and test outcomes.
• Support manufacturing and assembly teams to resolve build issues and refine process flows for mechanism integration.
• Contribute to R&D strategy by identifying and implementing new design methodologies, materials, and technologies that improve reliability and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay updated with emerging trends in aerospace and space mechanisms to integrate innovative solutions into next-generation products.

Candidate Requirements

• :Strong understanding of mechanical systems design, including kinematics, dynamics, and structural mechanics applicable to aerospace and space systems.
• Proven expertise in mechanism design and analysis covering deployment systems, release mechanisms, actuators, latches, and precision assemblies.
• Proficiency in GD&T, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
• Experience in root cause analysis, tolerance stack-up, and failure analysis for high-precision mechanisms.
• Hands-on proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modeling, assemblies, and technical drawing creation.
• Strong working knowledge of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools for structural and dynamic assessments.
• Experience performing FMECA and reliability validation for mechanical systems.
• Sound understanding of material selection, tribology, lubrication, and surface treatments for vacuum and extreme environments.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards for mechanism design, testing, qualification, and environmental verification.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing small engineering teams, conducting design reviews, and ensuring delivery of key milestones.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to interface across multi-disciplinary teams.