SUMMARY The Launch Site Development team is hiring for high-impact, dynamic engineering positions for those who thrive on solving real problems in diverse environments. Design, build, and activate mission-critical mechanical ground support equipment across a growing portfolio of launch sites, from historical US-based pads to greenfield builds in extreme locations including Wallops Flight Facility and Esrange, Sweden. Take cradle-to-grave ownership of structural systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, vehicle transport and handling equipment, tooling, and other mechanical GSE. You'll work with world-class design and operations teams to create adaptable designs that deploy reliably across wildly different site conditions and constraints. Expect your work to matter immediately: concepts become hardware, installations support live operations, and the systems you build enable the next launch.
RESPONSIBILITIES - Design, build, and activate new mechanical ground support equipment across a global launch portfolio including Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Wallops Flight Facility (VA), Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (FL), and Esrange Space Center (Sweden)
- Lead design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams • including design engineers, technicians, external partners, and site personnel • to drive mechanical system upgrades, streamline operations, and establish standardized processes across all launch sites
- Commission ground systems and lead integrated vehicle/ground operations at the pad
- Support safe movement of launch vehicles and payload segments to the launch complex
- Perform structural analysis using hand calculations and FEA tools to validate designs and provide engineering dispositions for in-service hardware
- Lead troubleshooting efforts, resolve any issues and non-conformances that arise during operations/testing, and support anomaly investigations
- Opportunities to perform launch console operations or launch day red team activities
- Write procedures for system activation, maintenance, and vehicle handling operations
- Develop and execute maintenance strategies that maximize system availability and minimize downtime between missions
- Lead development of company processes, guidelines, and training in test and launch operations
- Collaborate with customers, external stakeholders, and design teams to ensure interoperability and compliance with regulatory and range safety requirements
- Provide technical write-ups for proposals and tailoring of regulations
- Direct the work of Fluids and Mechanical GSE team members and support hiring efforts
- Requires up to 25% travel to test and launch sites to support overall program needs
QUALIFICATIONS Required - Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, mechanisms, hydraulic systems, tooling, flight hardware or test operations
- Experience designing, building, troubleshooting and/or operating complex mechanical or structural systems
- Strong 3D CAD experience
- Demonstrated experience creating and interpreting engineering drawings, including GD&T
- Experience with hazard and risk analysis tools (i.e., FMEA, FMECA, FHA, HAZOP, etc.)
- Knowledge of fabrication, welding, machining and assembly practices
- Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high pressure fast-paced environment
- Ability to self-motivate and take the initiative to ensure your systems are functional and operating at peak performance
- Ability to adapt to shifting project and/or scope change requirements
- Ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
- Comfortable working in launch site environments with field testing, lifting equipment, and hazardous materials
- Willingness to support off-hour shifts during launch operations (nights/weekends as needed)
- Demonstrated project management experience, including vendor management, ability to communicate with senior leaders, development of budgets and schedules, etc.
- Basic working knowledge of standards and regulations (ASME, AWS, AISC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
Desired - Master's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering or related engineering discipline
- Experience with FEA software (e.g., ANSYS, FEMAP, Siemens NX Nastran) and ability to verify results with hand calculations
- Demonstrated experience designing, operating, and maintaining hydromechanical systems, including hydraulic power units, cylinders, pumps, and valves
- Familiarity with data acquisition and control methods, and data analysis tools
- Demonstrated experience with standards and regulations (ASME, AWS, AISC, AFSPCMAN 91-710, NASA-STD-5005, GSFC-STD-8009, etc.)
- Prior experience at a federal launch range (e.g., VSFB, CCSFS, KSC, WFF, PSC)
- Familiarity with Atlassian products (i.e., Confluence and Jira) and version control systems (i.e., SVN, Bitbucket, etc.)
- Ability to obtain a security clearance
