Defense and Space Manufacturing

Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer

Jacksonville, FLOnsiteFull TimePosted 19 days ago

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Required skills

Spacecraft Mechanisms
deployment mechanisms
release mechanisms
pointing mechanisms
Autodesk Inventor
GD&T
kinematics
multibody dynamics
bearings
lubricants

Nice to have

kinematic simulation
deployable structures
booms
reflectors
solar arrays
gravity offload

Role summary

Star Catcher is seeking a Spacecraft Mechanisms Engineer in Jacksonville, Florida, to design, analyze, and qualify deployment, release, and pointing mechanisms for their space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and orbital power grid. The role involves conceptualizing and detailing mechanisms like hinges, booms, dampers, latches, and gimbals, performing detailed analysis (torque, force, kinematics, dynamics), selecting vacuum-compatible components, and planning/executing test campaigns. Responsibilities include CAD modeling, GD&T, supporting fabrication, writing technical documentation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. A Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and a minimum of three years of relevant experience are required.

Power the future of Space at Star Catcher

Star Catcher is building the first energy grid in space to power the orbital economy.

Today’s spacecraft must generate all of their own power, which caps what they can do and how long they can operate. But what if they could “plug” into a grid, the way buildings do on Earth? Instead of cables and outlets, Star Catcher is building the technology to wirelessly beam energy to spacecraft’s existing solar panels when and where they need it.Be an early member of a team building an entirely new energy infrastructure at scale to power the next frontier.

Star Catcher Industries, Inc., located in Jacksonville, Florida, has an opportunity for a Spacecraft Mechanisims Engineer to support the development of space-to-space power beaming spacecraft and the Star Catcher Network, its orbital power grid. This role will be responsible for design, analysis, and qualification of deployment, release, and pointing mechanisms used on spacecraft, satellites, and other space-related technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Design deployment mechanisms, including hinges, booms, dampers, and latches, from concept through flight drawings utilizing Autodesk Inventor.

Develop hold-down and release mechanisms, including release device selection, preload sizing, and separation shock characterization.

Design pointing gimbals, and define their actuation, range, accuracy, and resolution requirements.

Perform torque and force margin analysis across worst-case friction, thermal, and end-of-life conditions.

Analyze deployment kinematics and multibody dynamics to verify sequencing, rates, latch-up, and induced loads on the spacecraft.

Select bearings, lubricants, and materials for vacuum compatibility, and specify their handling, cleanliness, and outgassing controls.

Plan and execute mechanism development, qualification, and life test campaigns in ambient and thermal vacuum conditions.

Create test fixtures and gravity offload setups for deployment testing.

Support fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) analysis and implementation of mechanism components.

Generate and release engineering drawings of parts and assemblies following drafting standards and GD&T. Create and release engineering change orders to document design changes.

Serve as liaison with fabrication shops in support of technical matters for procurement efforts.

Write technical documentation supporting the analysis, build, test, and integration of hardware to meet program requirements. Document and present technical data providing justification for design choices.

Partner with mechanical design, structures, opto-mechanical, avionics, and manufacturing teams to integrate mechanisms into the spacecraft and close interface requirements.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related field.

Minimum three years of experience designing spacecraft mechanisms or other relevant industry experience.

Experience producing CAD models and drawings with GD&T in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent.

Hands-on experience in a shop, lab, or cleanroom environment supporting hardware build, integration, or environmental testing.

Experience sizing and selecting precision actuators and drivetrains, including stepper or brushless DC motors, harmonic drives, gearheads, and encoders.

Experience selecting vacuum-compatible bearings and lubricants, and addressing tribology, cold welding, and outgassing in flight mechanism design.

Experience with hold-down and release devices, including non-explosive actuators or pyrotechnic devices.

Experience performing torque and force margin analysis of spacecraft mechanisms per NASA-STD-5017 or equivalent.

Creative problem-solving skills, with the capability to develop innovative solutions to advanced engineering challenges.

Willingness to follow company standards and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's or PhD degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or a related field.

Multibody dynamics or kinematic simulation of deployment events.

Experience with deployable structures such as booms, reflectors, or solar arrays, and the gravity offload techniques used to test them.

Structural analysis of mechanism components in Ansys Mechanical.

Experience with pointing or gimbal mechanisms and their interaction with attitude control and pointing jitter.

Familiarity with regulations and standards relevant to space missions and operations.

Ability to effectively communicate and work in a multidisciplinary team setting while prioritizing tasks, multiple projects, and personnel.

Help us deploy and scale space infrastructure that will drive our utilization of space forward! We offer a highly competitive benefits package including access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, and paid parental leave, in addition to other benefits.

Star Catcher is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Star Catcher is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

All offers of employment at Star Catcher are contingent upon results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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